LOCUST. 
12Q 
bers and voracity constitute one of the severest 
pests of the hotter regions of the globe, occasion- 
ally committing the most dreadful ravages, and 
converting the most fertile provinces into the ap- 
pearance of barren deserts. 
Among the most noxious species is the Grylliis 
migratorius of Linnaeus, or common migratory 
locust, which of all the insects capable of injuring 
mankind seems to possess the most dreadful powers 
of destruction. Legions of these animals are from 
time to time observed in various parts of the w orld, 
where the havoc they commit is almost incredible : 
whole provinces are in a manner desolated by 
them in the space of a few days, and tlie air is 
darkened by their numbers: nay even when dead 
they are still terrible; since the putrefaction aris- 
ing from their inconceivable number is such that 
it has been regarded as one of the probable causes 
of pestilence in the Eastern regions. This formid- 
able Locust is generally of a brownish colour, 
varied with pale red or flesh-colour, and the legs 
are frequently blueish. In the year 1748 it ap- 
peared in irregular flights in several parts of Eu- 
rope, as in Germany, France, and England; and 
in this capital itself and its neighbourhood great 
numbers were seen: they perished however in a 
short time, and were happily not productive of 
any material mischief, having been probably 
driven by some irregular wind out of their in- 
tended course, and weakened by the coolness of 
the climate. 
From a paper published in the l§th volume of 
9 
V, VI. p. r. 
