570 Insects. 
THE CRICKET. (Acheta domesticata.) 
Thh: domestic Crickets generally inhabit houses, select- 
ing for their place of retirement the chimneys or backs of 
ovens ; and feeding upon anythirig 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 produce it by rubbing the 
bases of their wing-cases one over the other. 
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 (A. campestris) has the same form, but is of 
a different species to # the House Cricket, and 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 
difficult to distinguish one from the other. 
Order III. Remijptera. 
These insects have neither mandibles nor maxillae, but 
in lieu of them they have a tubular articulated rostrum, 
adapted for suction. Insects thus formed are called 
haustellated. The four wings are all membranous, but 
the outer ones are leathery at the base. Some of the 
species are without wings. The antennae are often 
small, and sometimes scarcely perceptible. The meta- 
morphoses of these insects are incomplete. 
