MOLE CRICKET. 173 



Similar to the mole Careful of its young. 



THE MOLE CRICKET. 



THIS little creature, which is a complete re- 

 presentative of the mole, among the insect tribes, 

 is, for an insect, very large, being two inches and 

 a half in length, and three quarters of an inch 

 in breadth. Its fore-feet are broad, and strong; 

 and in their formation and position bear a great 

 resemblance to the fore-feet of that animal. 

 They are used for precisely the same purpose as 

 those of moles, to burrow under the surface of the 

 ground, where the insect common iy resides; and 

 so expertly does it use them that it can penetrate 

 the earth with even greater expedition than the 

 mole. 



The female forms a cell of clammy earth, 

 about the size of a hen's egg, closed up on every 

 side, and within as large as two hazel nuts. The 

 eggs, amounting to nearly a hundred and fifty, 

 are white, and about the size of caraway comfits: 

 they are carefully covered, as well to defend 

 them from the injuries of the weather as from 

 the attacks of one of the species of black beetles, 

 which often destroys them. The female places 

 herself near the entrance of the nest, and, when- 

 ever the beetle attempts to seize its prey, the 

 guardian insect catches it behind, and bites it 

 asunder. Nothing can exceed the care of these 

 animals in the preservation of their young. 

 Wherever a nest is situated, fortifications, ave- 



