MOLE CRICKET. 
319 
In the day-time the mole cricket buries itself 
under the surface of the earth, and only ventures 
from its retreat during the night, when it creeps 
about and occasionally makes a chirping noise. 
The nest which the female prepares for her eggs is 
of an oval form, made of clammy earth, and large 
enough to hold a full-sized walnut. This is gene- 
rally situated about three inches under ground, and 
is perfectly smooth within, where the eggs, to the 
number of a hundred and fifty or two hundred, are 
deposited. Mr. White, of Selborne, saw one of 
these repositories laid open by a gardener, who, 
mowing by the side of a canal, chanced to pare off a 
large piece of turf and expose this curious instance 
of domestic ceconomy. He observed several caverns 
and winding passages leading to a kind of chamber, 
neatly smoothed, and about the size of a moderate 
snuff-box. Within this secret nursery were de- 
posited near a hundred eggs, of a dirty yellow colour, 
and enveloped in a tough skin full of a viscous sub- 
stance. The eggs were but a little way under the 
surface, within the influence of the sun, and just 
under a little heap of fresh mould, like that which 
is raised by ants. The eggs of the mole cricket are 
nearly of a round shape, and about the size of seed 
pearl. They are usually deposited in May, and 
hatched in July or August. 
The female insect is said to pay great attention 
to her nursery, and to defend it from the weather 
by sinking it deeper or raising it nearer the surface, 
according as the ground is moist or dry. She is 
