174 NATURAL HISTOEY OF SELBOENE. 



LETTEE XLVII. 



TO THE SAME. 



' ' Far from all resort of mirth 

 Save the cricket on the hearth." 



MILTON'S R Penseroso. 



SELBOENE. 



DEAR SIR, While many other insects must be sought after in fields 

 and woods, and waters, the gryllus domesticus, or house-cricket, resides 

 altogether within our dwellings, intruding itself upon our notice 

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

 being, like the spider, pleased with the moisture of the walls ; and 

 besides, the softness of the mortar enables them to burrow and mine 

 between the joints of the bricks or stones, and to open communications 

 from one room to another. They are particularly fond of kitchens and 

 baker's 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 slumbers ; 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 natural time of motion only in the night. As soon as it grows 

 dusk, the chirping increases, and they come running forth, and are 

 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 

 thrifty race, and show a great propensity for liquids, being found 

 frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, or the like. What- 

 ever is moist they affect ; and therefore often gnaw holes in wet woollen 

 stockings and aprons that are hung to the fire : they are the house- 

 wife's barometer, foretelling her when it will rain, and are prognostic 

 sometimes she thinks of ill or good luck, of the death of a near relation, 

 or the approach of an absent lover. By being the constant companions 

 of her solitary hours they naturally become the objects of her super- 

 stition. These crickets are not only very thrifty, but very voracious ; 

 for they will eat the scummings of pots, and yeast, salt, and crumbs of 

 bread, and any kitchen offal or sweepings. In the summer we have 

 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 which they come to houses where they were not known 

 before. It is remarkable that many sorts of insects seem never to use 

 their wings but when they have a mind to shift their quarters and 

 settle new colonies. When in the air they move "volatu undoso," in 

 waves or curves, like wood-peckers, opening and shutting their wings at 

 every stroke, and so are always rising or sinking. 



When they increase to a great degree, as they did once in the house 

 where I am now "writing, they become noisome pests, flying into the 

 candles, and dashing into people's faces ; but may be blasted and 



