NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 203 



LETTER XLVII 



" Far from all resort of mirth 

 Save the cricket on the hearth." 



MILTON'S // Penseroso. 



SELBORNE. 



DEAR SIR, While many other insects must be sought after 

 in fields, and woods, and waters, the grylhts domesticus, or 

 house-cricket, resides altogether within our dwellings, intrud- 

 ing itself upon our notice whether we will or no. This species 

 delights in new-built houses, being, like the spider, pleased 

 with the moisture of the walls ; and besides, the softness of the 

 mortar enables them to burrow and mine between the joints of 

 the 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 prognostic 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 super- 

 stition. 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. 



