By being the constant companions of her solitary hours they
naturally become the objects of her superstition. These crickets are
not only very thirsty, 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-packers, 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 became 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.
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