NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 239 



great stone ; or else in breaking up the ground we inad- 

 vertently 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 learned 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 probably 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 without 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 only make that shrilling noise, perhaps out of 

 rivalry and emulation, as is the case with many animals 

 which exert some sprightly note during their breeding-time. 

 It is raised by a brisk friction of one wing against the 

 other. They are solitary beings, living singly male and 

 female, each as it may happen ; but there must be a time 

 when the sexes have some intercourse, and then the wings 

 may be useful perhaps during the hours of night. When 



