we will or no. This species delights in new-built 

 houses, being, like the spider, pleased with the mois- 

 ture of the walls ; and besides, the softness of the 

 mortar enables them to burrow and mine between 

 the joints of the bricks of stones, and to open com- 

 munications from one room to another. They are 

 particularly fond of kitchens and bakers' ovens, on 

 account of their perpetual warmth. 



Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only 

 the short period of one summer, or else doze away 

 the cold uncomfortable months in profound slum- 

 bers ; 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 nat- 

 ural time of motion only in the night. As soon as it 

 grows dusk, the chirping increases, and they come 

 running forth, ranging 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 they prognosticate some- 

 times, she thinks, good or ill luck ; the death of near 



relations, or the approach of an absent lover. By 



128 



