268 NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER XLVII. 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARHIXGTON. 



SELBORNE. 



" Far from all resort of mirth, 

 Save the cricket on the hearth." 



MILTON'S 77 Penseroso. 



HILE many other insects must be sought 

 after in fields, and woods, and waters, the 

 Gryllus domesticuSj 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 par- 

 ticularly fond of kitchens and bakers' 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 un- 

 comfortable 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 atmo- 

 sphere which they inhabit, they are a thirsty 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 housewife's barometer, foretelling her 



