OF SELBORNE. 77 



Tender insects that live abroad either 

 enjoy only the short period of one Summer, 

 or else doze away the cold uncomfortable 

 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 atmo- 

 sphere 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 prognostic some- 

 times, she thinks, of ill or good luck ; of 

 the death of a near relation, or the approach 



