FIELD CRICKETS. 



advances, they stop short in the midst of their 

 song, and retire backward nimbly into their bur- 

 rows, where they lurk till all suspicion of danger 

 is over. 



At first we attempted to dig them out with a 

 spade, but without any great success ; for either 

 we could not get to the bottom of the hole, which 

 often terminated under a great stone ; or else in 

 breaking up the ground, we inadvertently squeezed 

 the poor insect to death. Out of one so bruised 

 we took a multitude of eggs, which were long and 

 narrow, of a yellow colour, and covered with a 

 very tough skin. By this accident we learnt to 

 distinguish the male from the female : the former 

 of which is 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 pro- 

 bably is the instrument with which she deposits 

 her eggs in crannies and safe receptacles. 



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 curiosity with- 

 out injuring the object of it. It is remarkable 

 that though these insects are furnished with 

 long legs behind, and brawny thighs for leaping, 

 like grasshoppers ; 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 them when there 

 seems to be the greatest occasion. The males 



