OF SELBORNE. 71 



black, with a golden stripe across his shoul- 

 ders ; the latter is more dusky, more capa- 

 cious 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 crannies 

 and safe 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 stalk 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 curio- 

 sity 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 grasshop* 

 pers ; 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 



