OF INSECTS. 
337 
(from the situations which ,they inhabit,) to be a thirsty 
race, such they reahy are, and they she w a great propensity 
for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of wa. 
ter, milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they attack; 
and therefore often gnaw holes in wet wolen stockings and 
aprons that are hung to the fire. These crickets are not only 
very thirsty, but very voracious; for they will eat the scum- 
mings of pots, yeast, salt, and crumbs of bread; and any 
kitchen offal or sweepings. In summer evenings they have 
been observed to fly out of a window, and over roofs of 
houses: this feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner 
in which they often leave their haunts as it does for the 
method by which they come to houses where they were 
not known before. It is remarkable that many sorts of 
insects seem never to use their wings but when they have 
a mind to shift their quarters and settle new colonies. 
When in the air, thgy move in waves or curves like 
wood-peckers, opening and shutting their wings at every 
stroke, and so are always rising and sinking. When 
they increase to a great degree, they become noisy pests, 
flying into candles, and dashing into people’s faces; but 
may be blasted with gunpowder discharged into their 
crevices and crannies. Cats catch house-crickets, and 
playing with them as they do with mice^ devour them. 
Crickets may be destroyed like wasps, by phials half- 
filled with beer, or any liquid, and set in their haunts; 
for being always eager to drink, they will crowd in till 
the bottles are full. A popular prejudice, however, fre- 
quently prevents their being driven away and destroyed: 
the common people imagine that their presence brings a 
kind of luck to the house while they are in it, and think 
it would be hazardous to destroy them. 
Tarantula. (PI. 54.) The breast and belly of the 
tarantula are of an ash colour — the legs are also of an 
ash colour, with blackish rings on the under part; the 
fangs, or nippers, are red on the inner side— the rest be- 
ing blackish: two of its eyes are larger than the others, 
red, and placed in the front; four others are placed in a 
transverse direction, towards the mouth; the other two 
are nearer the back: it has two antennae, or feelers. It 
2 G 
