248 WONDERS OF INSECT LIFE 



one knows, are both acrobats and musicians. Try 

 to catch one engaged in the former pursuit and 

 the reader will soon have ocular demonstration of 

 the insect's powers of progression, especially if 

 the weather be scorching hot. The Field and the 

 House Crickets are readily distinguished, the 

 former being black in colour, while the latter is 

 paler and possesses brownish markings on the 

 wing-covers. The House Cricket, too, has some 

 black markings on the head and beady black 

 eyes. The hind legs — like those of the Grass- 

 hoppers — are large and long, and I have noticed 

 with interest recently a somewhat general analogy 

 between these and the legs of the Rabbit. The 

 hind legs of the latter are so placed and seem so 

 constructed, and of such a length as compared 

 with the fore ones, as to enable the rodent to leap 

 with adroitness, and in the case of the Hare the 

 long hind legs aid the animal considerably in its 

 swift travels uphill and the sidelong leaps that it 

 unexpectedly takes. 



The House Cricket inhabits for the most part 

 warm places indoors, but the Field Cricket tenants 

 grassy spots where it can burrow to its heart's 

 content, and may be sought for during the Summer 

 in hot, sandy districts. The latter species is 

 much rarer than its commoner relative. The 

 male is the musician, and possesses a musical file 

 wherewith to produce the sound known to most 



