APRIL. 121 



abled to find each other in their dark laby- 

 rinths. If two of them are placed in separate 

 pill-boxes at a short distance, they will fre- 

 quently answer each other for a considerable 

 time. They infest houses where there is much 

 old timber, and trees in a state of decay, and 

 are exceedingly destructive. 



Gryllotalpa vulgaris. The mole- cricket, an 

 insect of very peculiar construction, is an in- 

 habitant of moist gardens and the banks of 

 small streams, where it throws up small ridges 

 in its subterranean progress. When it is abun- 

 dant it does incredible mischief to the horti- 

 culturist by destroying the roots of vegeta- 

 bles. It seldom comes abroad, except in even- 

 ings during the spring, when, as Gilbert White, 

 in his " Natural History of Selbourne," says, 

 " They begin to solace themselves with a low, 

 dull, jarring note, continued for a long time 

 without interruption." It appears to be con- 

 fined to the southern portion of Britain. Re- 

 port, however, says they are to be found on 

 Oxton bogs, in this county ; but I have not yet 

 acquired a specimen. 



