776 



A HISTORY OF 



or ten joints, in the whole about six or seven 

 inches long. It has two small eyes standing 

 out of the head like those of crabs, mid two 

 feelers like long hair. The whole body is 

 studded with small excrescences, which are 

 not much bigger than the points of pins. The 

 shape is roundish, and the body diminishes in 

 circumference to the tail, which is forked into 

 two horns. Between this, there is a sort of a 

 sheath contnining a small dangerous sting. 

 If any person happens to touch tiiis insect, he 

 is sure to be stung; and is immediately taken 

 with a shivering and trembling all over the 

 body; which, however, may soon be put a 

 stop to, by rubbing the place that was affected 

 with a little palm oil.* 



From the locust we descend to the Cricket, 

 which is a very inoffensive and pretty animal. 

 Though there be a species of this insect that 

 lives entirely in the woods and fit-Ids, yet that 

 with which we are best acquainted is the 

 House-cricket, whose voice is so well known 

 behind a country fire in a winter's evening. 

 There is something so unusual in hearing a 

 sound while we do not see the animal pro- 

 ducing it, nor discover the place from whence 

 it comes, that among the country people the 

 chirping of the cricket is always held ominous ; 

 and whether it deserts the fire-side, or pays 

 an unexpected visit, the credulous peasantry 

 always find something to be afraid of. In 

 general, however, the killing of a cricket is 

 considered as a most unlucky omen : and 

 though their company is not much desired, 

 yet no methods must be taken to remove them. 



The cricket very much resembles the grass- 

 hopper in its shape, its manner of ruminating, 

 its voice, its leaping, and methods of propaga- 

 tion. It differs in its colour, which is uniform- 

 ly of a rusty brown ; in its food, which is 

 more various ; and in its place of residence, 

 which is most usually in the warmest chinks 

 behind a country hearth. They are, in some 

 measure, obliged to the bad masonry employ- 

 ed in making peasants' houses for their retreats. 

 The smallest chink serves to give them shelter; 

 and where they once make their abode, they 

 are sure to propagate. They are of a most 

 chilly nature, seldom leaving the fire-side ; 

 and, if undisturbed, are seen to hop from their 



(a) It is now known that every insect of this tribe it 

 perfectly harmless. 



retreats to chirrup at the blaze in the chimney. 

 The wood-cricket is the most timorous animal 

 in nature ; but the chimney-cricket, being 

 used to noises, disregnrds not only those, but 

 the appearance of people near it. Whether 

 the voice of (his animal is formed in the same 

 manner with that of the grasshopper, by a fine 

 membrane at the base of the wings, which is 

 moved by a muscle, and which being coiled 

 up, gives a sound like a quail-pipe, is not yet 

 ascertained ; nor do we well know the use of 

 this voice, since anatomical inspection has not 

 yet been able to discover the smallest organs 

 of hearing. Still, however, we can mnke no 

 doubt of their power of distinguishing sound?, 

 though probably not in the same manner with 

 the more prefect ranks of nature. Certain it 

 is, that I have often heard them call, and this 

 call was as regularly answered by another, 

 although none but the males are vocal. 



As the cricket lives chiefly in the dark, so 

 its ryes set-in formed for the gloominess of its 

 abode ; and those who would surprise it, have 

 only to light a candle unexpectedly; by which 

 it is dazzled, and cannot find the way back to 

 its retreat. It is a very voracious little ani- 

 mal, awl will eat bread, flour, and meat ; but 

 it is particularly fond of sugar. They never 

 drink, but keep for months together at the 

 bark, of the chiiuiH'v, where they could pos- 

 sibly have hud no moisture. The warmth of 

 tlu-ir situation only serves to increase their 

 mirth and loquacity. Except in the very 

 coldest weather, they never cease their chir- 

 ruping, but continue ihat little piercing note, 

 which is a* pleasing to some as it is disagree- 

 able to others. The great Scaliger was pajr- 

 ticularly delighted with the chirruping of 

 crickets, and kept several of them for his 

 amusement, enclosed in a box, which he 

 placed in a warm situation. Others, on the 

 contrary, think there is something ominous 

 and Rir.iitnf.holy in the sound, and use every 

 endeavour to banish this insect from th?ir 

 houses. Ledelius tells us of a woman who 

 was very much incommoded by crickets, and 

 tried, but in vain, every method of banishing 

 them from her house. She at last accidental- 

 ly succeeded ; for having one day invited 

 several guests to her house, where there was 

 a wedding, in order to increase the festivity 

 of the entertainment, she procured drums and 

 trumpets to entertain them. The noise of 



