LXXXTI1I.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



241 



accident we learned to distinguish the male from the female ; 

 the former of which is shining black, with a golden stripe 

 across his shoulders ; the latter is more dusky, more capacious 

 about the abdomen, and carries a long sword-shaped weapon 

 at her tail, which probably is the instrument with which she 

 deposits her eggs in their receptacles. 



Where violent methods will not avail, more gentle means 

 will often succeed ; and so it proved in the present case ; for, 

 though a spade be too boisterous and rough an implement, a 

 pliant stock of grass, gently insinuated into the caverns, will 

 probe their windings to the bottom, and quickly bring out the 

 inhabitant ; and thus the humane inquirer may gratify his 

 curiosity without injuring the object of it. It is remarkable 

 that, though these insects are furnished with long legs behind, 

 and brawny thighs for leaping, like grasshoppers ; yet when 

 driven from their holes they show no activity, but crawl along 

 in a shiftless manner, so as easily to be taken : and again, 

 though provided with a curious apparatus of wings, yet they 

 never exert them when there seems to be the greatest occasion. 

 The males only make that thrilling noise perhaps out of rivalry 

 and emulation, as is the case with many animals which exert 

 some sprightly note during their breeding time : it is raised by 

 a brisk friction of one wing against the other. They are 

 solitary beings, living singly male or female, each as it may 

 happen ; but there must be a time when the sexes have some 

 intercourse, and then the wings may be useful perhaps during 

 the hours of night. When the males meet they will fight 

 fiercely, as I found by some which I put into the crevices 

 of a dry stone wall, where I should have been glad to have 

 made them settle. For though they seemed distressed by 

 being taken out of their knowledge, yet the first that got posses- 

 sion of the chinks would seize on any that were obtruded 

 upon them with a vast 'row of serrated fangs. With their 

 strong jaws, toothed like the shears of a lobster's claws, they 

 perforate and round their curious regular cells, having no fore- 

 claws to dig, like the mole- cricket. When taken in hand I 

 could not but wonder that they never offered to defend them- 

 selves, though armed with such formidable weapons. Of such 

 VOL. I. I i 



