The Cricket 
71 
The larvae which are very like the perfected 
insect, except that they have no wings, 
form little burrows for themselves in which 
they hibernate. 
House Cricket. — The house cricket is 
perhaps the form of cricket in which we 
are most interested, since it enters our 
houses it forces itself upon our observation. 
It is of a greyish yellow, almost ashy 
colour. It generally enters country 
houses and prefers the kitchen regions — 
bakers’ shops, lime kilns — anywhere where 
there are regular fires kept going. It finds 
its way between bricks and stones or loose 
cement till it burrows within a few inches 
of an oven or stove, or hot water pipe. 
In new houses it finds special facilities for 
working in the undried mortar. The 
immense amount of heat that these little 
‘ 
insects are able to stand, and apparently 
enjoy, has surprised many. If fires are 
withdrawn, the cricket becomes for the 
time being dormant. It is not surprising 
that from the nature of the cricket’s hot, 
dry surroundings it needs a considerable 
amount of moisture, and generally likes a 
place where it is able, when it wishes, to 
