OF SELBORNE. 349 



hills echo ; and, in the stiller hours of darkness, may be 

 heard to a considerable distance. In the beginning of 

 the season their notes are more faint and inward ; but 

 become louder as the summer advances, and so die 

 away again by degrees. 



Sounds do not always give us pleasure according 

 to their sweetness and melody ; nor do harsh sounds 

 always displease. We are more apt to be captivated 

 or disgusted with the associations which tfiey promote, 

 than with the notes themselves. Thus the shrilling of 

 the field cricket, though sharp and stridulous, yet mar- 

 vellously delights some hearers, filling their minds with 

 a train of summer ideas of every thing that is rural, 

 verdurous, and joyous. 



About the 10th of March the crickets appear at the 

 mouths of their cells, which they then open and bore, 

 and shape very elegantly. All that I ever have seen at 

 that season were in their pupa state, and had only the 

 rudiments of wings lying under a skin or coat, which 

 must be cast before the insect can arrive at its perfect 

 state l ; from whence I should suppose that the old 

 ones of last year do not always survive the winter. In 

 August their holes begin to be obliterated, and the 

 insects are seen no more till spring. 



Not many summers ago I endeavoured to transplant 

 a colony to the terrace in my garden, by boring deep 

 holes in the sloping turf. The new inhabitants stayed 

 some time, and fed and sung ; but wandered away by 

 degrees, and were heard at a farther distance every 

 morning ; so that it appears that on this emergency 

 they made use of their wings in attempting to return to 

 the spot from which they were taken 2 . 



1 We have observed that they cast these skins in April, which are then 

 seen lying at the mouths of their holes. 



2 I have been as unsuccessful in transplanting the hearth cricket, as 

 Mr. White was with the field cricket. In two. different houseSj I have 

 repeatedly introduced crickets, but could not prevail upon them to stay. 

 One of my trials, indeed, was made in summer, with insects brought from 

 a garden wall, and it is probable, they deemed the kitchen fireside too 

 hot, at that season. RENNIE. 



