CHAPTER XV 



THE CRICKET: THE BURROW; THE EGG 



ALMOST as famous as the Cicada, the 

 L Field Cricket, the denizen of the 

 greenswards, figures among the limited but 

 glorious number of the classic insects. He 

 owes this honour to his song and his house. 

 One thing alone is lacking to complete his 

 renown. By a regrettable omission, the 

 master of the art of making animals talk 

 gives him hardly two lines. 



In one of his fables he shows us the Hare 

 seized with terror at the sight of his ears, 

 which scandalmongers will not fail to de- 

 scribe as horns at a time when to be horned 

 is dangerous. The prudent animal packs up 

 his traps and makes off : 



" Adieu, voisin Grillon" dit-il; " je pars 



d'ici; 

 " Mes oreilles enfin seraient comes aussi." 



300 



