288 CRICKETS. 



on experience, the large green grasshopper of England to be 

 " an excellent condiment." 



The Cricket, like the grasshopper, has long slender antennae, 

 but is distinguished from the latter by a thick roundish head, 

 instead of one more or less pointed. 



The most generally known of the Achetidce, or Cricket 

 family, in England, are those called the " Domestic," the 

 " Field," and the " Mole." We have long ago described briefly 

 the most salient points in the character of the fire-side chirper. 

 His country cousin of the field is, like himself, known much 

 more generally by sound than sight ; for, being of a shy, unso- 

 cial temper, it is not often that we can get a peep (except by 

 stratagem) at his black, gold-striped, shining jacket, or at the 

 more duskily-coloured and more portly person of his female 

 partner, who wears the pacific sword of a " sauterelle a sabre." 

 No sooner are these timid little animals warned by their long 

 antennal ears, directed to all quarters like those of a hare, that 

 footsteps are approaching, than, forthwith ceasing their chirp, 

 they pop down into their holes among the grass, at the mouths 

 of which they usually take up their stations. 



After having essayed in vain to dislodge them by the spade 

 from their subterranean citadels, it was found by Mr. White 

 that the insertion of a straw or pliant bit of grass would 

 probe the windings of their caverns, and bring to upper air the 

 poor disquieted inhabitants. In a somewhat similar manner 

 French children are said to fish for field crickets with long line ; 

 of horsehair, baited with an ant. 



Early in March, the field cricket, with wings as yet covered 

 in their cases, and so enveloped till the month of April, opens 

 his cell's mouth, and, sitting at its entrance, sings, or, to 

 speak more correctly, plays through the summer days and 

 nights, on to August, when all trace of him, audible and 

 visible, disappears, with the obliteration even of the entrance to 

 his late abode. 



1 See Vignette. 



