OF SELBORNK. 73 



like the mole-cricket. When taken in hand 

 I could not but wonder that they never 

 offered to defend themselves, though armed 

 with such formidable weapons. Of such 

 herbs as grow before the mouths of their 

 burrows they eat indiscriminately ; and on 

 a little platform, which they make just by, 

 they drop their dung ; and, never, in the 

 day-time, seem to stir more than two or 

 three inches from home. Sitting in the 

 entrance of their caverns they chirp all 

 night as well as day from the middle of the 

 month of May to the middle of July ; and 

 in hot weather, when they are most vigor- 

 ous, they make the 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 dis- 



