476 A DESCRIPTION OF 
2. THE MOLE CRICKET. (Gryllotalpa vulgaris.) 
THE two fore feet of this insect are placed very near the 
head, are short and broad, and, resembling those of the 
mole, are contrived to help the insect in burrowing under 
ground. The Mole Cricket is very destructive in gardens, 
as it attacks the roots of young plants, and causes them 
soon to rot and die. The female forms a nest of clammy 
earth, in which she lays from two hundred to four hun- 
dred eggs. The nest is carefully closed up on every side, 
to secure the brood from the incursions of the grubs and 
other subterraneous depredators. The song of the Mole 
Cricket is harmonious. 
3. THE CRICKET. (Gryllus domestica.) 
THE domestic crickets generally abide in houses, select- 
ing for their place of retirement the chimneys or backs of 
ovens ; live upon anything that comes in their way, flour, 
bread, meat, and especially sugar, of which they seem to 
be particularly fond. The chirping noise, which they 
make nearly without intermission, proceeds only from the 
males, who rub their legs against the base of their wing- 
cases to produce it. 
The Cricket chirrups in the hearth, 
The crackling faggot flies. 
Crickets are generally of a brown rusty colour, and the 
organ of vision appears in them to be very weak and im- 
perfect, as they find their way much better in the dark 
than when dazzled by the sudden light of a candle. The 
Field Cricket (G. campestris^has the same form, but is of 
a different species to the House Cricket, and it is black, 
with a fine gloss. Its noise is heard at a great distance, 
and is so similar to that of the grasshopper, that it is dif- 
ficult to distinguish the one from the other. 
