328 The Natural History of Selborne 



should suppose, from the burning atmosphere which they inhabit 

 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 pro- 

 gnostic 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 bedchambers, and upon their beds, and in their 

 ovens, and in their kneading troughs." * Their shrilling noise is 

 occasioned by a brisk attrition of their wings. Cats catch hearth 

 crickets, and, playing with them as they do with mice, devour them. 

 Crickets may be destroyed, like wasps, by phials filled with beer, or 

 any liquid, and set in their haunts ; for being always eager to drink, 

 they will crowd in till the bottles are full. 



* Exod. viii. 3. 



