466 OBSERVATIONS ON 



away nimbly at the approach of a candle. Their an- 

 tenna are remarkably long-, slender, and flexile. 



October, 1790. After the servants are gone to bed, 

 the kitchen hearth swarms with young crickets, and 

 young Blattce molendinarice of all sizes, from the most 

 minute growth to their full proportions. They seem to 

 live in a friendly manner together, and not to prey the 

 one on the other. 



August, 1792. After the destruction of many thou- 

 sands of Blattce molendinarice, we find that at intervals 

 a fresh detachment of old ones arrives; and particularly 

 during this hot season : for the windows being left open 

 in the evenings, the males come flying in at the case- 

 ments from the neighbouring houses, which swarm with 

 them. How the females, that seem to have no perfect 

 wings that they can use, can contrive to get from house 

 to house, does not so readily appear. These, like many 

 insects, when they find their present abodes overstocked, 

 have powers of migrating to fresh quarters. Since the 

 Blattce have been so much kept under, the crickets have 

 greatly increased in number. 



GRYLLUS DOMESTICUS HOUSE CRICKET. 



NOVEMBER. After the servants are gone to bed, the 

 kitchen hearth swarms with minute crickets not so large 

 as fleas, which must have been lately hatched. So that 

 these domestic insects, cherished by the influence of a 

 constant large fire, regard not the season of the year, 

 but produce their young at a time when their congeners 

 are either dead, or laid up for the winter, to pass away 

 the uncomfortable months in the profoundest slumbers, 

 and a state of torpidity. 



When house crickets are out, and running about in a 

 room in the night, if surprised by a candle, they give 

 two or three shrill notes, as it were for a signal to their 

 fellows, that they may escape to their crannies and 

 lurking holes, to avoid danger. 



