How Animals Work. 



are excavated, and from time to time extended in the 

 search for food, which seems to consist chiefly of vege- 

 table matter, though the Mole Cricket is said to be 

 at least partially carnivorous in its habits, devouring 

 any soft-bodied insects or worms that may come in its 

 way. This, however, is a point which I think needs 

 careful reinvestigation, for the unhealthy appearance of 

 any crop growing on land infested by the Mole Cricket 

 seems to point rather to a vegetarian than a carnivorous 

 diet, and I do not think that the mere tunnelling would 

 produce this appearance. In the spring-time of the 

 year " a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts 

 of love," and, apparently, so does that of the male Mole 

 Cricket, for on mild April evenings he may be surprised, 

 seated at the entrance to his burrow, singing his slow, 

 vibrant, and monotonous love song, that, oft-repeated, 

 sounds something like the call of the goat-sucker. The 

 female appears to form a special chamber in stiffish, dry 

 soil in which to lay her eggs, which are said to number 

 from two hundred to three hundred. The young emerge 

 about the end of a month from the date of the eggs being 

 deposited, and somewhat closely resemble their parents 

 in appearance, save that no wings are present. Accord- 

 ing to Monsieur Feburier, three years are required for 

 the complete development of the Mole Cricket, which 

 indicates remarkable longevity in these interesting in- 

 sects. 



Let us now have a look at the Common Mole, which 

 is one of the most expert miners in the animal kingdom. 

 Cordially detested by farmers on account of the hillocks 

 with which it covers their fields and pastures, yet the 

 " little gentleman in velvet " does them many a good 



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