ACHETID-ffi. 247 



servation by the nature of its haunts, and the beau- 

 tiful adaptation of its structure to its peculiar mode 

 of life. Its history is to be found in almost every 

 elementary work on insects, and it is therefore un- 

 necessary to repeat it here. The following is a 

 delineation of its ante- 

 rior leg, which may be re- 

 garded as one of the most t 

 perfect examples of a fos- 

 sorial instrument to be 

 found in this class of ani- 

 mals. The mole cricket is unknown in Scotland, 

 and it is only in certain districts in the south of 

 England that it is found in any quantity. 



Many different species of Achetidse occur in foreign 

 countries, and several of them exhibit very remark- 

 able forms. The male of Gryllus umbraculatus of 

 Linnaeus, a native of Spain and Portugal, is re- 

 markable for a membranous prolongation of the 

 forehead, which hangs down in the form of a veil. 

 G. Fattersonii, as represented by Stoll, has a singulai 

 inflation in front of the head, and two long horns 

 curved forwards, and placed before the eyes. The 

 species which the same iconographer names G. 

 Vorax, has an enormous head with large projecting 

 mandibles, and antennae little short of half-a-foot in 

 length. 



As an example of this curious and well known 

 family, we have represented an interesting species, 

 now figured for the first time. 



