Dear Sir,--While many other insects must be sought after in fields, and
woods, and waters, the _gryllus domesticus_, or house-cricket, resides
altogether within our dwellings, intruding itself upon our notice whether
we will or no. This species delights in new-built houses, being, like
the spider, pleased with the moisture of the walls; and besides, the
softness of the mortar enables them to burrow and mine between the joints
of the bricks or stones, and to open communications from one room to
another. They are particularly fond of kitchens and bakers' ovens, on
account of their perpetual warmth.
Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the short period of one
summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfortable months in profound
slumbers; but these, residing as it were in a torrid zone, are always
alert and merry--a good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the
dog-days. Though they are frequently heard by day, yet is their natural
time of motion only in the night. As soon as it grows dusk, the chirping
increases, and they come running forth, and are from the size of a flea
to that of their full stature. As one should suppose, from the burning
atmosphere which they inhabit, they are a thrifty race, and show a great
propensity for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of water,
milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they affect; and therefore
often gnaw holes in wet woollen stockings and aprons that are hung to the
fire. They are the housewife's barometer, foretelling her when it will
rain, and are prognostic sometimes she thinks of ill or good luck, of the
death of a near relation, or the approach of an absent lover. By being
the constant companions of her solitary hours they naturally become the
objects of her superstition. These crickets are not only very thrifty,
but very voracious; for they will eat the scummings of pots, and yeast,
salt, and crumbs of bread, and any kitchen offal or sweepings. In the
summer we have observed them to fly when it became dusk out of the
windows and over the neighbouring roofs. 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 they move "_volatu undoso_," in waves or
curves, like wood-peckers, opening and shutting their wings at every
stroke, and so are always rising or sinking.
When they increase to a great degree, as they did once in the house where
I am now writing, they become noisome pests, flying into the candles, and
dashing into people's faces; but may be blasted and destroyed by
gunpowder discharged into their crevices and crannies. In families at
such times they are like Pharaoh's plague of frogs--"in their
bedchambers, and upon their beds, and in their ovens, and in their
kneading troughs." Their shrilling noise is occasioned by a brisk
attrition of their wings. Cats catch hearth-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.