HOUSE-CRICKET- 223 



woods, and waters, the gryllus domesticus, or house-cricket, re- 

 sides altogether within our dwellings, 

 intruding itself upon our notice 

 whether we will or no. This species 

 delights in new-built houses, being, 

 like the spider, pleased with the mois- 

 ture of the walls; and besides, the 

 softness of the mortar enables them to 

 burrow and mine between the joints House-cricket. 



of the bricks or stones, and to open communications from one 

 room to another. They are particularly fond of kitchens and 

 bakers' ovens, on account of their perpetual warmth. 



Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the short 

 period of one summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfortable 

 months in profound slumbers ; but these, residing as it were in 

 a torrid zone, are always alert and merry : a good Christmas fire 

 is to them like the heats of the dog-days. Though they are 

 frequently heard by day, yet is their natural time of motion only 

 in the night. As soon as it grows dusk, the chirping increases, 

 and they come running forth, and are from the size of a flea to 

 that of their full stature. As one should suppose, from the burn- 

 ing 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 

 prognostic 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 natu- 

 rally 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 



