164 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



are always alert and merry ; a good Christmas fire is to them like 

 the heats of the dog-days. 



g* t tf * While the field-cricket delights in sunny, dry 



banks, and the house-cricket rejoices amidst the 



glowing heat of the kitchen hearth or oven, 



the mole-cricket haunts moist meadows, and frequents the sides 



of ponds and banks of streams, performing all its functions in a 



swampy, wet soil. With a pair of forefeet curiously adapted to 



the purpose, it burrows and works underground like the mole, 



raising a ridge as it proceeds, but seldom throwing up hillocks. 



In fine weather, about the middle of April, and just at the close 

 of day, they begin to solace themselves with a low, dull, jarring 

 note, continued for a long time without interruption, and not unlike 

 the chattering of the fern-owl, or goat-sucker, but more inward. 



G.W. 



