GRYLLUS. 91 



at the same time the most disagreeable in ap- 

 pearance, is the mole cricket, which burrows 

 under ground like a mole, raising a furrow as 

 it proceeds. It is at once distinguished from 

 all others, by the apt formation of its fore- feet, 

 which are divided into several segments, or 

 claws, spreading out like the palm of the hand > 

 by means of which the insect is enabled to per- 

 form its instinctive functions in the most ef- 

 fective manner. It moves slowly, and never 

 leaves its hiding-place till the close of the day. 

 The female lays between two and three hun- 

 dred eggs in an oval nest under ground, and is 

 very careful of her charge till they are hatched. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Gryllus gryllotalpa. Gr. thorace rotundato, 

 alis caudatis elytro longioribus, pedibus anticis 

 palmatis tomentosis. Linn. Syst. Nat. i.p. 693. 

 Gmel. 1. p. 2059. 



Acheta Gryllo-talpa. Fair. Syst. Ent. p. 279. Spec. 

 Ins. l.p.353. Mant. Iws.l.p.231. Ent. Syst. 2. 

 p. 28. 



Rocsel. Ins. 2. Gryll. 1. 14, 15. 





