242 INSECTS .\T HOME. 



base to the tip, wliicli divides the elytron into twc- parts, 

 namely, a tolerably liard part that eovers the back, and a softer 

 jiart that is folded on the sides, and cannot be seen when the 

 insect is viewed from above. On examination with a lens, 

 this nervure is shown to be a sort of hinge, and along its inner 

 side the elytron has a very deep fold, so that the soft part can 

 be turned down at right angles with the hard portion. 



Up to this point, the elytra are alike in both sexes, but now 

 all resemblance ceases. The male elytron is much broader 

 than the female, and the nervures, instead of simply running 

 in a sort of network composed of delicate threads, are very 

 strong, and converge towards the hard spot which has already 

 been mentioned, merging themselves into the fine network 

 only at the very end of the wing. On removing the right 

 elytron, and examining it carefully, the serrations which produce 

 the sound can be seen, if the light be j^roperly adjusted. They 

 are not sharp, but rounded, and their outlines are waved in this 

 fashion !. I particularly mention the adjustment of the light, 

 because the serrations are not easily seen ; and indeed, when 

 I first looked for them, I had some difficulty in finding them. 



The true wings of the insect are large enough to carry their 

 owner through tlie air, but, like those of the cockchafer, tlie 

 dor, and stag Beetle, are not sufficiently large to prevent it from 

 knocking itself against obstacles. Grilbert White, in his 'Sel- 

 borne,' Letter XLVI., mentions that the house in which he was 

 writing was so infested with Crickets, that they became absolute 

 pests at night, even flying into the flame of the candle and 

 the faces of persons sitting in the room. 



Of their mode of flight, he makes the following remarks : — 

 ' In the summer we bave often observed them to fly, when it 

 became dusk, out of the windows, and over the neighbouring 

 roofs. This feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner 

 in which they often leave their haunts, as it does for the 

 method by wliich they come to houses where they were not 

 known before. It is remarkable that many insects seem never 

 to use their wings but when they have a mind to shift their 

 quarters, and establisli new colonies. When in the air, they 

 move volatu itnduso, in waves or curves, like woodpeckeis. 

 opening and shutting their wings at every stroke, and so are 

 always rising or sinking.' Mr. Westwood remarks that he has 



