34 2 The Natural History of Se I borne 



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 in- 

 habit 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 prog- 

 nostic 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 superstition. 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. In the 

 summer we have observed them to fly when it became dusk 

 out of the windows and over the neighbouring roofs. This 

 feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner in which they 

 often leave their haunts, as it does for the method by which 

 they come to houses where they were not known before. It 

 is remarkable that many sorts of insects seem never to use 

 their wings, but when they have a mind to shift their quarters 

 and settle new colonies. When in the air they move " volatu 

 undoso" in waves or curves, like wood-peckers, opening and 

 shutting their wings at every stroke, and so are always rising 

 or sinking. 



When they increase to a great degree, as they did once 

 in the house where I am now writing, they become noisome 

 pests, flying into the candles, and dashing into people's faces ; 

 but may be blasted and destroyed by gunpowder discharged 

 into their crevices and crannies. In families at such times 

 they are like Pharaoh's plague of frogs, " in their bed- 

 chambers, and upon their beds, and in their ovens, and in 

 their kneading troughs."* Their shrilling noise is occa- 



* Exod, viii. 3, 



