THE GRASSHOPPER KIND. 33 



this, the female mole cricket is often posted as a 

 sentinel near the nest, and when the black inva- 

 der plunges in to seize its prey, the guardian in- 

 sect seizes him behind, and instantly bites him in 

 two. 



Nothing can exceed the care and assiduity 

 which these animals exhibit in the preservation of 

 their young. Wherever the nest is placed, there 

 seems to be a fortification, avenues, and intrench- 

 ments drawn round it ; there are numberless wind- 

 ing ways that lead to it, and a ditch drawn about 

 it, which few of its insect enemies are able to pass. 

 But their care is not confined to this only ; for at 

 the approach of winter they carry their nest en- 

 tirely away, and sink it deeper in the ground, so 

 that the frost can have no influence in retarding 

 the young brood from coming to maturity. As 

 the weather grows milder, they raise their maga- 

 zine in proportion, till at last they bring it as near 

 the surface as they can to receive the genial influ- 

 ence of the sun, without wholly exposing it to 

 view ; yet should the frost unexpectedly return, 

 they sink it again as before. 



[The Great Lantern Fly is found in China and 

 Peru. The fore part of the head of this animal 

 is drawn, extended, and empty ; the antennae are 

 seated below the eyes, having two articulations, 

 whereof the exterior is larger, and of a globular 

 form ; the beak is inflected, or bent inwards under 

 the body ; and the feet are made for walking. 

 The head and thorax are generally of a ruddy 

 brown ; and the ground colour of the elytra is 

 fresh green, but quaintly figured with spots of a 



VOL. vi. c 



