J42 LOCUST. 



colour, and of the size of common shot: on the 

 approach of winter, or any great change of 

 weather, these insects are said to remove the 

 nest, by sinking it deeper*, so as to secure it 

 from the power of frost, and when the spring 

 commences, again raising it in proportion to the 

 warmth of the season, till at length it is brought 

 so near the surface as to receive the full influence 

 of the air and sunshine: but should unfavourable 

 weather again take place, they again sink the 

 precious deposit, and thus preserve it from danger. 

 The eggs are usually deposited in the month of 

 June or July, and the young are hatched in Au- 

 gust. At their first exclusion they are about the 

 size of ants, for which, on a cursory view, they 

 might be mistaken; but on a close inspection are 

 easily known by their broad feet, &c. In about 

 the space of a month they are grown to the length 

 of more than a quarter of an inch; in two months 

 upwards of three quarters; and in three months to 

 the length of more than an inch. Of this length 

 they are usually seen during the close of autumn, 

 after which they retire deep beneath the surface; 

 not appearing again till the ensuing spring. Dur- 

 ing their growth they cast their skin three or four 

 times. 



The Mole-Cricket lives entirely on vegetables, 



* This is affirmed by Goedart, but is disbelieved by Reaumur 

 and Rqesel j and it appears from experiment that the nest always 

 requires to be kept in a moist situation; the eggs, if exposed to a 

 dry air, being entirely shrivelled and destroyed. 



