LETTER X L V I. 



To the same. 

 ' . . . . resonant arbusta . . . ." 



SELBORNE. 



HERE is a steep abrupt pasture field inter- 

 spersed with furze close to the back of this 

 village, well known by the name of Short 

 Lithe, consisting of a rocky dry soil, and 

 inclining to the afternoon sun. This spot 

 abounds with the gryllus campestris, or field- 

 cricket; which, though frequent in these 

 parts, is by no means a common insect in many other 

 countries. 



As their cheerful summer cry cannot but draw the attention 

 of a naturalist, I have often gone down to examine the 

 economy of these grylli, and study their mode of life; but 

 they are so shy and cautious that it is no easy matter to get 

 a sight of them ; for feeling a person's footsteps as he ad- 

 vances, they stop short in the midst of their song, and retire 

 backward nimbly into their burrows, where they lurk till all 

 suspicion of danger is over. 



At first we attempted to dig them out with a spade, but 

 without any great success ; for either we could not get to the 

 bottom of the hole, which often terminated under a great 

 stone; or else in breaking up the ground we inadvertently 

 squeezed the poor insect to death. Out of one so bruised we 



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