OF SELBORNE. 71 



shining black, with a golden stripe across 



his shoulders ; the latter is more dusky, 



more capacious about the abdomen, and 



carries a long sword-shaped weapon at her 



tail, which probably is the instrument with 



which she deposits her eggs in crannies and 



safe recepticles. 



Where violent methods will not avail 



> 



more gentle means will often succeed ; and 

 so it proved in the present case ; for, 

 though a spade be too boisterous and rough 

 an implement, a pliant stalk of grass, 

 gently insinuated into the caverns, will 

 probe their windings to the bottom, and 

 quickly bring out the inhabitant ; and thus 

 the humane inquirer may gratify his curio- 

 sity without injuring the object of it. It 

 is remarkable that, though these insects are 

 furnished with long 'legs behind, and 

 brawny thighs for leaping, like grasshop- 

 pers ; yet when driven from their holes 

 they show no activity, but crawl along in a 

 shiftless manner, so as easily to be taken : 

 and again, though provided with a curious 

 apparatus of wings, yet they never exert 



