234 NATURAL HISTORY 



bricks or stones, and to open communications from one room 

 to another. They are particularly fond of kitchens and 

 bakers' ovens, on account of their perpetual warmth. 



Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the short 

 period of one summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfort- 

 able months in profound slumbers ; but these, residing as it 

 were in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry : a good 

 Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the dog-days. 

 Though they are frequently heard by day, yet is their natural 

 time of motion only in the night. As soon as it grows dusk, 

 the chirping increases, and they come running forth, and are 

 from the size of a flea to that of their full stature. As one 

 should suppose, from the burning atmosphere which they 

 inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity 

 for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of water, 

 milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they affect ; and 

 therefore often gnaw holes in wet woollen stockings and 

 aprons that are hung to the fire : they are the housewife's 

 barometer, foretelling her when it will rain; and are pro- 

 gnostic sometimes, she thinks, of ill or good luck; of the 

 death of a near relation, or the approach of an absent lover. 

 By being the constant companions of her solitary hours they 

 naturally become the objects of her superstition. These 

 crickets are not only very thirsty, but very voracious ; for 

 they will eat the scummings of pots, and yeast, salt, and 

 crumbs of bread; and any kitchen offal or sweepings. In the 

 summer we have observed them to fly, when it became dusk, 

 out of the \vindows, and over the neighbouring roofs. This 

 feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner in which they 

 often leave their haunts, as it does for the method by which 

 they come to houses where they were not known before. It- 

 is remarkable, that many sorts of insects seem never to use 

 their wings but when they have a mind to shift their quarters 

 and settle new colonies. When in the air they move " volatu 

 undoso^ in waves or curves, like wood-peckers, opening and 

 shutting their wings at every stroke, and so are always rising 

 or sinking. 



When they increase to a great degree, as they did once in 



