THE DOMESTIC CRICKET. 29 
by these insects opinions would vary, but since the domestic 
crickets have found a home in some of the houses of Minne- 
apolis and elsewhere, there seems to be but one opinion in re- 
gard to them,and thisis that they areagreatnuisance. Agents 
whose business it is to 
rent houses are especially 
hard in their denuncia- 
tions of these crickets of 
the hearth, called by po- 
etic license musical in- 
sects. Theysaythat 
they are very destructive, 
that a house invaded by 
them could not be rented, 
and they have tried all 
sorts ofmethods to get rid 
of them but have failed 
to do so in many cases. 
‘hesinsects  aremuke: the 
maiiié: 18-_Domestic cricket; ¢ male: , & English sparrows, which 
chenburg. have come to stay, and 
this regardless of the opinions of otherinhabitants of houses. 

The general history of this insect is very similar to that 
of other crickets. They are nocturnal in their habits and 
hide during the day in dark cracks and crevices, providing 
such shelters are dry. Their motions are very rapid, and 
though they are enabled to jump, their plumpness induces 
them to prefer running to jumping. Being lovers of dryness 
and warmth they are apt to make their homes near stoves 
in kitchens and living-rooms; and in olden times, when the 
fire-places were open and built of brick, they found numer- 
ous shelters in such places, hence their name ‘‘Cricket of the 
hearth.’’ Their mere presence in our houses would not be so 
very bad if it were not for the fact that the adult males were 
so active in producing love-songs by scraping their upper 
wings together, and judging from these long-continued songs 
their love is of a most lasting character. These wings are 
transformed for the purpose of producing sounds into a sort 
of musical instrument. During their love-season, which ac- 
