242 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



M. Bory St. Vincent tells us, that the Spaniards are so 

 fond of crickets, that they keep them in cages like 

 singing-birds.* 



The Mole-Cricket. 



The insect called, from its similarity of habits to 

 the mole, the mole-cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris, 

 Latr.), is but too well known in gardens, corn-fields, 

 and the moist banks of rivers and ponds, in some 

 parts of England, such as Wiltshire and Hampshire, 

 though it is comparatively rare or unknown in others. 

 It burrows in the ground, and forms extensive gal- 

 leries similar to those of the mole, though smaller; 

 and these may always be recognized by a slightly- 

 elevated ridge of mould ; for the insect does not 

 throw up the earth in hillocks like the mole, but 

 gradually, as it digs along, in the manner of the field- 

 mouse. In this way it commits great ravages, in hot- 

 beds and in gardens, upon pease, young cabbages, and 

 other vegetables, the roots of which it is said to devour. 

 It is not improbable, we think, that, like its congener, 

 the house-cricket, it may also prey upon underground 

 insects, and undermine the plants to get at them, as 

 the mole has been proved to do. Mr. Gould, indeed, 

 fed a mole-cricket for several months upon ants. 



The structure of the mole-cricket's arms and hands 

 (if we may call them so) is admirably adapted for 

 these operations, being both very strong, and moved 

 by a peculiar apparatus of muscles. The breast is 

 formed of a thick, hard, horny substance, which is 

 further strengthened within by a double frame-work 

 of strong gristle, in front of the extremities of which 

 the shoulder-blades of the arms are firmly-jointed; a 

 structure evidently intended to prevent the breast 

 from being injured by the powerful action of the 

 * Diet. Classique d'Hist. Nat. Art. Grillon. 



