CRICKET (gryllus; acheta of some naturalists), a genus of orthopterous insects, of the section sanatoria (in which the hinder legs are long, very strong, and formed for leaping), allied to locusts and grasshoppers, and the type of a family gryllidm (or achetida). The wings are folded horizontally, and form, when closed, a slender thread-like acumi nation beyond the wing-covers. It is supposed to be by friction of the wing-covers against each other, and from a peculiarity of their structure, that the males produce the stridulous sound which makes these insects so well known. The antennm are long and thread-like, inserted between the eyes. The best known species is the HOUSE C. (U. domestielts), which is about an inch long, with antenute of almost an inch and a half, of a pale-yellowish color, mingled with brown. It is widely distributed over Europe, par ticularly the south, and is common in Great Britain. Its very frequent abode is in nooks and crevices of houses, and it sometimes burrows in the mortar; the neighborhood of the fire is very attractive to it, particularly in winter; and its merry note has, accord ingly, become associated with ideas of domestic comfort and cheerfulness. Without
the heat of fire, it becomes dormant, or nearly so, in winter. It remains quiet during the day, but is lively and active at night, issuing forth to seek its food, which consists both of animal and vegetable substances. Bread-crumbs are very acceptable to it; and for the sake, apparently, both of food and warmth, it very much frequents bakehouses. The lame are wingless, the pupte have mere rudimentary wings.—The FIELD C. (G. carnpestris) is larger, blackish, with the base of the wing-covers yellowish, feeds on herbs and roots, makes a louder noise than the house C., and is not unfrequent in some parts of England, but very rare in Scotland.—A species of C. (G. megacephalus) found in Sicily, makes a noise loud enough to be heard at the distance of a mile.—The MOLE C. (gryllotalpa) will be noticed in a separate article.