242 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



Bory St Vincent tells us, that the Spaniards are so 

 fond of crickets that they keep them in cages like 

 singing birds.* 



The Mole-Cricket. 



The insect called, from its similarity of habits to the 

 mole, the mole -cricket (Gryllatalpa vulgaris, Latr.) 

 is but too well known in gardens and corn-fields in 

 some parts of England, such as Wiltshire and Hamp- 

 shire, though it is comparatively rare or unknown in 

 others. It burrows in the ground, and forms exten- 

 sive galleries similar to those of the mole, though 

 smaller; and these may always be recognised by a 

 slightly-elevated ridge of mould : for the insect does 

 not throw up the earth in hillocks hke the mole, but 

 gradually, as it digs along, in the manner of the field 

 mouse. In this way it commits great ravages in hot- 

 beds and in gardens, upon pease, young cabbages, 

 and other vegetables, the roots of which it is said 

 to devour. It is not improbable, we think, that, 

 like its congener, the house-cricket, it may also prey 

 upon underground insects, and undermine the plants 

 to get at them, as the mole has been proved to do. 

 Mr Gould, indeed, fed a mole- cricket for several 

 months upon ants. 



The structure of the mole-cricket's arms and hands 

 (if we may call them so) is admirably adapted for 

 these operations, being both very strong, and moved 

 by a peculiar apparatus of muscles. The breast is 

 formed of a thick, hard, horny substance, which is 

 further strengthened within by a double frame-work 

 of strong gristle, in front of the extremities of which 

 the shoulder blades of the arms are firmly jointed; a 

 structure evidently intended to prevent the breast 

 from being injured by the powerful action of the 



* Diet. Classique d'Hist Nat, Art. Grillon, 



