268 
NATURAL HISTORY 
. LETTER XLVII. 
TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARHINGTON. 
Selbornf. 
" Far from all resort of mirtli, 
Save the cricket on the hearth." 
Milton's II Penseroso. 
HILE many other insects must be sought 
after in fields, and woods, and waters, the 
Gryllus domesticus, or house-cricket, resides 
altogether within our dwellings, intruding 
itself upon our notice, whether we will or no. 
This species delights in new-built houses, being, like the 
spider, pleased with the moisture of the walls ; and besides, 
the softness of the mortar enables them to burrow and mine 
between the joints of the bricks or stones, and to open 
communications from one room to another. They are par- 
ticularly fond of kitchens and bakers' ovens, on account of 
their perpetual warmth. 
Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the 
short period of one summer, or else doze away the cold un- 
comfortable months in profound slumbers ; but these, residing 
as it were in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry : a 
good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the dog-days. 
Though they are frequently heard by day, yet is their 
natural time of motion only in the night- As soon as it 
grows dusk, the chirping increases, and they come running 
forth, and are from the size of a flea to that of their full 
stature. As one should suppose, from the burning atmo- 
sphere which they inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show 
a great propensity for liquids, being found frequently 
drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, or the like. What- 
ever is moist they affect ; and, therefore, often gnaw holes 
in wet woollen stockings and aprons that are hung to the 
fire: they are the house wife^s barometer, foretelling her 
