276 HOUSE CRICKETS. 



profound slumbers; but these, residing as it were 

 in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry ; a 

 good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of 

 the dog-days. Though they are frequently heard 

 by day, yet is their natural time of motion only 

 in the night. As soon as it grows dusk, the 

 chirping increases, and they come running forth, 

 and are from the size of a flea to that of their 

 full stature. As one should suppose, from the 

 burning atmosphere which they inhabit, they are 

 a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for 

 liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans 

 of water, milk, broth, or the like. Whatever 

 is moist they affect ; and, therefore, often gnaw 

 holes in wet woollen stockings and aprons that 

 are hung to the fire; they are the housewife's 

 barometer, foretelling her when it will rain; and 

 are prognostics sometimes, she thinks, of ill or 

 good luck ; of the death of a near relation, or the 

 approach of an absent lover. By being the con- 

 stant companions of her solitary hours they 

 naturally become the objects of her superstition. 

 These crickets are not only very thirsty, but very 

 voracious ; for they will eat the scummings of 

 pots, and yeast, salt, and crumbs of bread ; and 

 any kitchen offal or sweepings. In the summer 

 we have observed them to fly, when it became 

 dusk, out of the windows, and over the neigh- 

 bouring roofs. This feat of activity accounts for 

 the sudden manner in which they often leave 

 their haunts, as it does for the method by which 

 they come to houses where they were not known 

 before. It is remarkable, that many sorts of 

 insects seem never to use their wings but when 

 they have a mind to -shift their quarters and 

 settle new colonies. When in the air, they move 

 volatu undoso, in waves, or curves, like wood- 



