OF S E L B O R N E, 
which were long and narrow, of a yellow colour, and covered with 
a very tough fkin. By this accident we learned to diftinguiOi the 
male from the female ; the former of which is fliining black, with 
a golden ftripe acrofs his fhoulders ; the latter is more dulky, more 
•capacious about the abdomen, and carries a long fword-fhaped 
weapon at her tail, which probably is the infbrument with which 
Ihe depofits her eggs in crannies and fafe receptacles. 
Where violent methods will not avail, more gentle means will 
often fucceed ; and fo it proved in the prefent cafe ; for, though a 
fpade be too boifterous and rough an implement, a pliant llalk 
4Df grafs, gently infmuated into the caverns, will probe their wind- 
ings to the bottom, and quickly bring out the inhabitant ; and 
thus the humane inquirer may gratify his curiofity without injur- 
ing the objed of it. It is remarkable that, though thefe infects 
are furniflied with long legs behind, and brawny thighs for leap- 
ing, like grafshoppers ; yet when driven from their holes they 
fhew no adivity, but crawl along in a fhiftlefs manner, fo as 
eafily to be taken : and again, though provided with a curious 
apparatus of wings, yet they never exert them when there feems 
to be the greateft occafion. The males only make that Ihrilling 
noife perhaps out of rivalry and emulation, as is the cafe with 
many animals which exert fome fprightly note during their breeding 
time : it is raifed by a brifk fridion of one wing againft the other. 
They are folitary beings, living fingly male or female, each as it 
may happen ; but there muft be a time when the fexes have fome 
intercourfe, and then the wings may be ufcful perhaps during the 
hours of night. When the males meet they will fight fiercely, as 
I found by fome which I put into the crevices of a dry ftone wall, 
where I fliould have been glad to have made them fettle. For 
though they feemed diftrefled by being taken out of their know- 
K k 2 ledge, 
