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name Crex has likewife been applied to the crake, 
or land-rail but it does not appear that they are 
the fame. 
CRICETUS. This animal is fometimes called 
the German rat, but is defcribed by BufFon under 
the appellation of hamfter. It is of the fize of the 
water-rat, which it refembles in the fmallnefs of it's 
eyes and the fliortnefs of it's tail. With refpeft to 
colotr, it is rather of a deeper brown than the Nor- 
v/ay rat, except the belly and legs, which are a dirty 
yellow. But the charafters by which it may be 
diftinguilhed from all others, are two pouches, like 
thofe of a baboon, on each fide of it's jaw, under 
the flcin, into which it generally crams a large 
quantity of provifions. Thefe bags, which are 
oblong, and when filled are each of the fize of a 
large walnut, open into the mouth, and fall back 
along the neck to the fhoulder : into thefe the ani- 
mal thrufts the furplus of thofe fruits or grains 
which it gathers in the field, after the immediate 
calls of hunger are fatisfied; and, thus loaded, it 
returns to it's hole, in order to depofit the fpoil, 
as a refource againft the winter feajbn. The fize, 
the fecundity, and the voracious appetites of this 
animal, render it one of the greateft pcfts in thofe 
countries of which it is a native, and every method 
is praflifed for it's extermination. 
But though the Cricetus is very noxious to man- 
kind, if confidered with regard to thofe infi:in6ts 
which conduce to it's own fupport and conveni- 
ence, it claims our admiration. It's hole, wliich 
offers a very curious objedl for contemplation, and 
evinces a degree of (kill infinitely fuperior to the 
reft of the rat kind, confifts of a variety of apart- 
ments fitted up for the different occafions of the 
tenant : it is generally formed on an inclining 
ground; and is always furnifhed with two en- 
trances, one perpendicular, and the other oblique ; 
but, if there be more than one in a family, there 
are as many perpendicular holes as inhabitants. 
The perpendicular hole is -that through which the 
animal uiually afcends and defcends; while the ob- 
lique one admits a freer current of air, as w^ell as 
affords a fafe egrefs when the other paffage is ac- 
cidentally flopped up. Within a foot of the per- 
pendicular hole, there are two more, where this 
creature's provifions are depofited : thefe are much 
more fpacious than the former, and are large in pro- 
portion to the quantity of flores. Exclufive of 
thefe, there is flill another apartment, warm.ly lined 
with grafs and flraw, in which the female brings 
forth her young. All thefe communicate with 
each other, and coUeftively occupy a fpace of ten 
or twelve feet in diameter. The flore-houfes are 
generally furnifiied with dry corn, well cleaned; 
and fometimes corn in the ear, beans, and peas. 
Thefe animals ufually begin to lay in their win- 
ter (lock about the latter end of Augufl; and, as 
foon as each magazine is filled, they carefully co- 
ver the mouth of it v/ith earth, in fo compleat a 
manner, that it is difficult to difcover where the 
mould has been turned. The only means of find- 
ing out thefe fubterraneous retreats, are to obferve 
their oblique entrances, which generally have fmall 
quantities of earth before them ; and thefe, though 
often fevcral yards from the perpendicular retreats, 
lead thofe who are fkilled in the fearch to the te- 
nanted apartm^ents. Many German peafants pro- 
cure a livelihood by finding out and bringing off 
the hoards of thefe creatures, which, in a fruitful 
feafon, often furnifli two bufhels of good grain in 
each refervoir. Like moll others of the rat j^ind. 
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they generate tv/Ice or thrice in a year, bringing fordi 
five or fix at a time. At fome periods they are 
afloniflfingly numerous ; and, at others, they are 
lefs fo. Moid feafons aififl their propagation; 
and it often happens that, at fuch times, their de- 
vaftations produce an univerfal famine. Fortu- 
nately, hov^evcr, for mankind, thefe creatures, like 
the reft of their kind, deftroy each other; and, of 
two which Buftcn kept in a cage, male and fe- 
male, the latter killed and devoured the former. 
The fur of thefe animals is reckoned exceed- 
ingly valuable; for which reafonthe natives arc very 
afllduous in their deftruflion. They have ufually 
brown backs, and white bellies: many of them^' 
however, are of a grey colour; v/hich variation pro- 
bably arifes from a difference in their ages. They 
are very common in Thuringia and Mifhia; and, 
according to St. Jerome, tliere are vaft numbers of 
them in Paleftine. 
CRICKET. A genus of infefts of the hemip- 
tera clals, nearly allied to the locuft kind. Their 
diftinguifning chara6leriftics are thefe: the feelers 
are briftiy ; the covers of the wings are membrana- 
ceous; and the legs are adapted for leaping. 
Cricicet, Comm6n. This infeft greatly re- 
fembles the locuft in it's conformation, it's manner 
of ruminating, it's voice, it's leaping, and it's me- 
thods of propagation : but it entirely differs from 
that infcft in it's colour, which is uniformly of a 
]"ufty brown ; in it's food, which is more various ; 
and in it's place of refidence, which is ufually the 
warmeft chink of an oven or hearth. The fmalleft 
openings afford flicker for thefe animals ; and^ 
wherever they fix their abodes, they are fure to pro- 
pagate. Being of a very chilly nature, they fel- 
dom leave the heat ; and, if undifturbed, frequently 
hop from, their retreats, in order to chirp at the 
blaze of the fire. Whether the voice of the Cricket 
is formed in the fame manner with that of the 
grafiiopper, namely, by a fine membrane at the 
bafe of the wings, moved by a mufcle, and which, 
being coiled up, gives a found like that of a quail- 
pipe, is not yet well afcertained; nor are we ac- 
quainted v/ith the ufe of it's voice, fince anatomi- 
cal infpeftion has not been able to difcover the 
fmalleil auditoiy organs. Still, however, it is pro- 
bable that thefe animals poflefs the power of dif- 
tinguifhing founds, though in a lefs perfeil man- 
ner than the fuperior ranks of nature, for they fre- 
quently call on and anfwer each other; though it 
ihould be obferved, that the males only are vocal. 
As Crickets live chiefly in the dark, their eyes 
feem fitted for the gloominefs of their abodes; 
and thofe who would furprize them, need only 
light a candle fuddenly, by which means they will 
be fo dazzled and bewildered, as to be incapable 
of findins; out their retreats. 
Thefe little animals, which are very voracious, 
will eat bread, flour, and meat; but are particu- 
larly fond of fugar. They never drink, but con- 
tinue for months together at the backs of chim- 
nies, where they cannot poffibly receive any moif- 
ture. The warmth of their fituation increafes their 
mirth and loquacity; and, except in very cold 
weather, they never intermit their chirping, which 
is as difgufting to fome people as it is grateful to 
others. The celebrated Scaligcr, who is faid to 
have been greatly delighted with the chirping of 
Crickets, ufually kept feveral of them in a box, 
placed in a warm fituation. Some people, on the 
contrary, who think that their voices are ominous, 
ufe all methods to deftroy them; and Lselius in- 
3 F forms 
