THE CRICKETS 



961 



THE CRICKET'S INSTRUMENT OF MUSIC. 



1. The under surface of the horizontal portion of the wing-cover of a male Field 



Cricket. R, the round-file nervure ; r, r, r, the resonating surface. S, the portion 

 of the resonating surface known as the speculum. In 5 the round-file nervure 

 is seen more highly magnified. 



2. The upper surfaces of the horizontal portions of the wing-covers of a male House 



Cricket, showing the relative positions of the round-file ner\ ures, and of the 

 resonating surfaces when the wing-covers are opened apart. 



3. The under surface of the male Field Cricket's lelt wing-cover, showing both the 



horizontal and the perpendicular positions. 



4. The upper surfaces of the right wing-covers of the male and female Mole Cricket. 



These are important, as affording the only external means of distinguishing the 

 two sexes. It will be seen that the resonating surfaces in the male (on the left) 

 are more complicated than those in the female. 



the hole explained matters. The beetle, 

 whose face I at first mistook for that 

 of another Cricket, was on guard, and 

 effectually barring the entrance. That 

 the Cricket should not have scuttled into 

 the grass was remarkable. It would 

 seem, however, that escape through an 

 avenue of grass stems is not much prac- 

 tised by Field Crickets, At an early 

 stage, such as that of which I give an 

 illustration on page 959. they are extremely 

 lively, and can jump well. As they pro- 

 gress in months, howe\'er, their active 

 habits seem to leave them, and once they 

 are headed from their holes they are easily 

 captured. More than one observer has 



122 



expressed surprise that with their by no 

 means contemptible armament they do 

 not show fight. The Field Cricket is to 

 outward appearance an extremely power- 

 ful insect. His round bullet head, his 

 trenchant mandibles, his stout hind legs 

 armed knee to heel with spurs, his steely 

 eye, and his determined attitude, give 

 one an impression not only of brute 

 strength but of science. His looks belie 

 him. The indignity of capture which 

 provokes frantic savagery in the Earwig 

 leaves the Field Cricket limp. 



With his own kind he is warlike enough 

 — the males wage battle furiously ; and, 

 judging by his dealings with insects smaller 



