118 INSECTS. 



are used by the insect in forming burrows within 

 the earth. Not only do the digging instruments of 

 the Cricket, and its mode of proceeding, resemble 

 those of "the little gentleman in black velvet," but 

 the burrows formed though not constructed on a 

 precisely similar "ground-plan" consist, like his, of 

 a neatly finished chamber, approached by winding 

 galleries, and, like the Mole, the Cricket while mining, 

 raises a ridge of earth by which it may sometimes be 

 tracked. Unlike the quadruped, however, the insect is 

 fitted for more than underground life, and though not 

 equal, either in saltatorial or in flying powers to others 

 of its tribe, is able both to leap and to fly, and is 

 possessed of perfect organs of vision. 



The chosen home of these curious creatures is the 

 soil in damp fields and gardens (whence their French 

 name of Courtiliere), or in peat bogs ; and their food 

 appears to be various, as they not only feed largely upon 

 vegetables doing great mischief among the roots of 

 plants, barley, potatoes, &c. but, like the Grasshoppers, 

 have been known to attack and devour each other. The 

 remains of other insects have been found in their 

 stomachs, and in confinement they have been fed on 

 insects and on raw meat, of which they appear extremely 

 fond. 



The female Mole Cricket lays, in summer, an immense 

 number of eggs (according to Eesel, 300 or more), 

 which are hatched in about a month. The young 

 remain together underground (during the winter in a 

 dormant state) until all the changes of skin are accom- 

 plished, and the wings have attained their full growth, 

 which takes place in the following summer. 



The insect is not common in England. 



