NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 243 



LETTER XLVII. 



TO THE SAME. 



" Far from all resort of mirth 

 Save the cricket on the hearth." 



MILTJN'S II Penseroso. 



SELBORNE. 



DEAR SIR, While many other insects must be sought after in 

 fields and woods, and waters, the gryllus domesticus, or house- 

 cricket, resides 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 moisture 

 of the walls ; and besides, the softness of the mortar enables them 

 to burrow and mine between the joints of the bricks or stones, and 

 to open communications from one room to another. They are par- 

 ticularly 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 burning atmosphere 

 which they inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great pro- 

 pensity 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 stocking 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 naturally become the objects of her superstition. These 

 crickets are not only very thirsty, but very voracious ; for they will 



