THE MOXE CRICKET. 273 



legs, are voracious and active, and reside princi- 

 pally in the ground. 



Their heads are inflected, and armed with jaws 

 that are furnished with filiform palpi, or feelers. The 

 antennas in some species are taper, in others thread- 

 shaped. The wings are four, deflected and con- 

 volute; the lower ones plaited. The hind legs are 

 formed for leaping ; and on each of the feet are 

 two claws. 



THE MOLE CRICKET*. 



This little creature is a complete representative 

 of the mole, among the insect tribes. Its fore-feet 

 are broad, and strong; and in their formation and 

 position bear a great resemblance to the fore-feet 

 of that animal. They are used for precisely the 

 same purpose of burrowing under the surface ot the 

 ground, where the insect commonly resides ; and 

 so expertly does it use them that it can penetrate 

 the earth with even greater expedition than the 

 mole. 



The female forms a cell of clammy earth, about 

 the size of a hen's egg, closed up on every side, and 

 within as large as two hazel nuts. The eggs, 

 amounting to nearly a hundred and fifty, are white, 

 and about the size of caraway comfits : they are 

 carefully covered, as well to defend them from the 



* Syonyms. — Gryllus Gryllo-talpa Linn. Acheta gryllotdpa. 



—Fabricius. — Fen Cricked Chin-worm, Eve-churr, in different 

 parts of the kingdom. 



VOL. III. T 



