THE MOLE CRICKET. 481 



these cases may be found under planks or behind the skirting boards where these insects 

 love to conceal themselves. Along one of the edges of the capsule there is a slit which 

 corresponds with the opening of the puff, and which is strengthened like that part of the 

 pastry by a thickened margin. The edges of the slit are toothed, and it is said that each 

 tooth corresponds with an egg. When the young are hatched, they pour out a fluid which 

 has the effect of dissolving the cement which holds the edges together, the newly-hatched 

 Cockroaches push themselves through the aperture, which opens like a valve, and closes 

 again after their exit, so that the empty capsule appears to be perfectly entire. 



The shape of the young much resembles that of the perfect insect, except that in 

 neither sex are the wings in existence. In the pupal stage the resemblance is preserved, 

 the creature is active, and exhibits the rudimentary wings. The reader may often have 

 seen white, brown, and mottled Cockroaches. These are the insects that have lately 

 changed their skins ; and if one of these creatures be taken, it will be found that in a day 

 or two it will attain the same reddish brown colour as its companions. 



The Cockroach is a very active insect, running both backwards and forwards with 

 astonishing speed, and is furnished at the extremity of the abdomen with two short pro- 

 jections resembling miniature antennae, and popularly regarded as such. 



Turning to the engraving on page 479, the reader will observe in the centre of the 

 illustration a figure of a short, stumpy insect with large hind legs. This is the FIELD 

 CRICKET, a noisy creature, inhabiting the sides of hedges and old walls, and making 

 country lanes vocal with its curious cry, if such a word can be applied to a sound produced 

 by friction. The Field Cricket lives in burrows, made at the foot of hedges or walls, and 

 sits at their mouth to sing. It is, however, a very timid creature, and on hearing, or 

 perchance feeling, an approaching footstep, it immediately retreats to the deepest recesses 

 of the burrow, where it waits until it imagines the danger to have gone by. 



Despite of its timidity, however, it seems to be combative in no slight degree, and if a 

 blade of grass or straw be pushed into its hole, it will seize the intruding substance so 

 firmly that it can be drawn out of the burrow before it will loosen its hold. The males 

 are especially warlike, and if two specimens be confined in the same box, they will fight 

 until one is killed. The vanquished foe is then eaten by the victor. In White's " Natural 

 History of Selborne " there is a careful and interesting description of the Field Cricket 

 and its habits. 



The well-known HOUSE CEICKET ('Acheta domestica] is a near relation of the above- 

 mentioned species, and is so familiar as to need no description. 



ON the same illustration, and occupying the left hand, is one of the oddest looking of 

 the British insects, the MOLE CEICKET, so called on account of its burrowing habits and 

 altogether mole-like aspect. This insect is represented of the natural size, and, as may 

 be seen, attains considerable dimensions. Those who like to give the needful time and 

 trouble will find the internal anatomy of the Mole Cricket to be highly developed, 

 remarkably interesting, and easily dissected. 



Like those of the mole, the fore-limbs of the Mole Cricket are of enormous comparative 

 size, and turned outwards at just the same angle from the body. All the legs are strong, 

 but the middle and hinder pair appear quite weak and insignificant when compared with 

 the gigantic developments of the front pair. This insect is rather local, but is found in 

 many parts of England, where it is known by sundry popular titles, Croaker being the 

 name most in vogue near Oxford, where it is found in tolerable plenty. 



The wings of the Mole Cricket are large and handsome ; and when folded, their 

 hardened outer edges project along the back like two curved spines. Some persons have 

 thought that this insect is the cause of the well-known phenomenon called the Will of 

 the Wisp, or Jack o' Lantern, because in a locality where one of these deceptive lights was 

 fluttering after its uncertain wont, a Mole Cricket was captured on the wing. 



The food of the Mole Cricket is chiefly of a vegetable nature ; but the insect will eat 



animal food when offered, having been known to feed upon raw beef with great zest, 



Like the field cricket it is very combative, and when it has vanquished its foe is sure to 



eat him. As may be imagined from the tasks which it performs in driving burrows 



3 II 



