July, 1800. J 173 



1. — Gryllotalpa vulgaris, Latr. 

 Gryllotalpa vulgaris, Latreille, Geu. Crust, et Ins., iii, p. 95 ; Stephens, 

 Mandib., vi, p. 38 ; Fischer, Orth. Eur., p. 157, tab. ix, figs. 1, 

 la—i ; Brunner, Prod, der Eur. Orth., p. 451, fig. 107. 



Gryllus gryllotalpa, Linne, Syst. Nat., ii, p. 693. 



Acheta gryllotalpa, Eabricius, Syst. Ent., p. 279, Ent. Syst., ii, p, 28. 



Reddish-testaoeous, with fuscous markings. Head stretched out. Antennse 

 short, many jointed. Eyes prominent. Lateral ocelli well marked, median one 

 abortive, frons not divided from the vertex. Pronotum large, shield-like, subovate, 

 anterior margin slightly hollow, posterior margin bluntly rounded ; disc slightly de- 

 pressed in the middle, with a faint median line. Presternum and mesosternum 

 compressed, metasternum broad, forming a pentagon with the first abdominal 

 segment. Elytra abbreviated, nearly alike in botii sexes, but the $ has a distinctly 

 marked anal knot, wliich is wanting in the ? ; radial vein with many branches. 

 Wings fully developed, forming, when folded, two long processes, generally reaching 

 beyond tlie apex of the abdomen. Anterior legs strong, forming a digging organ ; 

 trochanter produced into a pointed process ; femora strong, compressed, sinuate in 

 the inferior margin ; tibiae dilated, compressed, on the inner side below the superior 

 margin with a slit-like external auditory foramen (tympanum), inferior margin with 

 four strong teeth, sub-excavated, and with the apices curved outwards ; tarsi com- 

 pressed, triangular, adjacent to the outer side of the tibiae, first two joints with 

 strong teeth, distal joint small, cylindrical, with two small claws. Middle and 

 posterior legs constructed as in the rest of the GryUidcB. Posterior femora dilated, 

 compressed. Posterior tibiae shorter than the femora, with four spines on the in- 

 ternal border of the shaft, and with three internal and four external apical spines. 

 Abdomen in ^ showing nine segments, in 9 seven, the seventh forming the sub- 

 genital lamina. No exserted ovipositor. Length, 35 — 50 mm. 



This singular insect, the " mole cricket," occurs all over Europe, 

 and though its subterranean habits conceal it from frequent ob- 

 servation, it seems probable that it is widely distributed in this 

 country. Most of the localities from which I have heard of its capture 

 are in the south of England. It should be looked for in damp soil, 

 as in gardens, moist meadows, the banks of streams and ponds, and 

 potato fields. Gilbert White (Nat. Hist. Selborne) in writing of the 

 mole cricket, says, that in May he found in a chamber underground, 

 about the size of "a moderate snuff-box" — which comparison, I dare 

 say, appealed to every one in those days — at the end of several winding 

 passages, about 100 eggs of a dirty yellow colour ; he also tells us 

 that towards evening in the middle of April it may be heard making 

 a dull sound like a goatsucker, but not so lovtd. Curtis notices that 

 the two appendages behind are used as antennae when the insect is 

 running backwards, which it easily does, and warn it of approaching 

 danger. It will be interesting to know whether future investigation 



