THE MOLE CRICKET 389 
A hedgehog is also a good remedy against Cockroaches, and, if allowed the run of the 
kitchen during the night, will be wonderfully efficacious in keeping down their numbers. 
The eggs of the Cockroach are not laid separately, but inclosed in a hard membranous 
case, exactly resembling an apple puff, and containing about sixteen eggs. Plenty of these 
cases may be found under planks or behind the skirting boards ee these insects love to 
conceal themselves. Along one of the edges of the capsule there is a slit which corresponds 
with the opening of the puff, and which is strengthened, like that part of the pastry, by a 
thickened margin. The edges of the slit are toothed, and it is said that each tooth corresponds 
with an egg. When the young are hatched, they pour out a fluid which has the effect of dis- 
solving the cement which holds the edges together, the newly-hatched Cockroaches push them- 
selves through the aperture, which opens like a valve, and closes again after their exit, so that 
the empty capsule appears to be perfectly entire. 
The shape of the young much resembles that of the perfect insect, except that in neither 
sex are the wings in existence. In the pupal stage the resemblance is preserved, the creature 
is active, and exhibits the rudimentary wings. The reader may often have seen white, brown, 
and mottled Cockroaches. These are the insects that have lately changed their skins ; and if 
one of these creatures be taken, it will be found that in a day or two it will attain the same 
reddish-brown color as its companions. 
The Cockroach is a very active insect, running both backwards and forwards with aston- 
ishing speed, and is furnished at the extremity of the abdomen with two short projections 
resembling miniature antenne, and popularly 
regarded as such. 
The accompanying illustration gives a figure of 
a short, stumpy insect with large hind Jegs. This 
is the FrELD CrIcKET, a noisy creature, inhabiting 
the sides of hedges and old walls, and making 
country lanes vocal with its curious ery, if such a 
word can be applied to a sound produced by fric- 
tion. The Field Cricket lives in burrows, made at 
the foot of hedges or walls, and sits at their mouth 
to sing. Our illustration shows both male and female in their natural size, the former just 
coming out of its burrow. It is, however, a very timid creature, and on hearing, or perchance 
feeling, an approaching footstep, it immediately retreats to the deepest recesses vii the burrow, 
where it waits until it imagines the danger to have gone by. Despite of its timidity, however, 
it seems to be combative in-no slight degree, and if a blade of grass or straw be pushed into its 
hole, it will seize the intruding substance so firmly that it can be drawn out of the burrow before 
it will loosen its hold. The males are especially warlike, and if two specimens be confined in the 
same box, they will fight until one is killed. The vanquished foe is then eaten by the victor. 
In White’s ‘‘ Natural History of Selborne”’ there is a careful and interesting description of 
the Field Cricket and its habits. 
The well-known HovusE CRICKET 
(Acheta doméstica) is a near relation 
of the above-mentioned species, and is 
so familiar as to need no description. 
One of the oddest-looking of the 
insects is the Mone Cricket, so called 
on account of its burrowing habits and 
altogether mole-like aspect. This insect 
is illustrated in the natural size, and, 
as may be seen, attains considerable 
dimensions. The right-hand figure 
represents the Mole Cricket while in its 
larval stage. Those who like to give the needful time and trouble will find the internal anatomy 
of the Mole Cricket to be highly developed, remarkably interesting, and easily dissected. 




sa gt 
aa SNS 

FIELD CRICKET.—Gryllus campestris. 





MOLE CRICKET.—Gryllotalpa vulgaris. 
