The Cricket: the Eggs 



numerous progeny. The egg-stage, there- 

 fore, lasts just about ten days. 



I said above that, when the lid of the ivory 

 case is lifted, a young Cricket pops out. 

 This is not quite accurate. What appears 

 at the opening is the swaddled grub, as yet 

 unrecognizable in a tight-fitting sheath. I 

 expected to see this wrapper, this first set of 

 baby-clothes, for the same reasons that made 

 me anticipate it in the case of the Decticus : 



" The Cricket," said I to myself, " is born 

 underground. He also sports two very long 

 antennae and a pair of overgrown hind-legs, 

 all of which are cumbrous appendages at the 

 time of the emergence. He must therefore 

 possess a tunic in which to make his exit." 



My forecast, correct enough in principle, 

 was only partly confirmed. The new-born 

 Cricket does in fact possess a temporary 

 structure; but, so far from employing it for 

 the purpose of hoisting himself outside, he 

 throws off his clothes as he passes out of the 



egg- 



To what circumstances are we to attribute 

 this departure from the usual practice ? Per- 

 haps to this: the Cricket's egg stays in the 

 ground for only a few days before hatching; 

 the egg of the Decticus remains there for 

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