346 THE MOLE CRICKET. 



found to be perforated in all directions, by the subter- 

 raneous passages of the insect. These passages inter- 

 sected each other at short distances, where they formed 

 chambers, in some of which a quantity of white silky 

 matter remained, but we could find no appearance of 

 eggs ; at certain places the passages were shut by little 

 heaps of loose clay, which the cricket appeared to be 

 able to move almost as fast as we could open a door ; 

 though these would no doubt have formed an effectual 

 barrier against any insect not accustomed to burrowing. 



The insect was found at the depth of about a foot, 

 not in the chamber but in one of the passages. There 

 were some roots of aquatic plants passing through the 

 lump of clay, but there was no sign of a store of any 

 kind of provision, and the insect appeared in rather a 

 dormant state. It was not, however, in a state of hy- 

 bernation, or any thing approaching to it, for it moved 

 immediately on being placed upon a plate ; and when 

 an inverted jar was placed over it, it ran rapidly round 

 the inside, alternately in the direction of the head and 

 the tail ; and so hard are the long claws upon its fore 

 legs, that the sound of them tapping the receiver, and 

 also the China plate, was distinctly audible. 



Upon placing a lump of the clay in which it was 

 found under the receiver, the cricket ceased to make 

 any further attempt at escape by the sides of the 

 receiver, but instantly began burrowing in the clay 

 with so much vigour, that it had a portion, equal to 

 the half of its body, in motion in an instant ; and in 

 a few minutes, a passage, in which the cricket could 

 run easily, was made all round where the clay touched 

 the receiver. When disturbed by agitating its abode, 



