CH. XII.] ^THE LOCUST, ETC. 189 



amazing fecundity, and generally lay from five hun- 

 dred to seven hundred eggs at a time. The ovi- 

 positor is composed of two fiat blades, which are 

 turned up at their extremities somewhat like a cut- 

 lass. With this instrument the eggs are deposited 

 in a little chamber formed in the earth with great 

 art. After they are deposited in a fit place, they 

 remain in their respective chambers, shielded from 

 the cold, during the whole of winter, till the heat 

 of spring begins to hatch and vivify them. About 

 May each egg produces a larva, which at first is 

 quite white, but soon turns of a brown colour. The 

 parent having now fulfilled the purposes of nature, 

 seems speedily to grow old, withered, and decrepit, 

 and dies. The young, however, after having esca- 

 ped from the egg, remain within the egg-chamber, 

 protected from external injuries, until they have 

 acquired bulk and strength sufficient to protect 

 themselves. The larvae now begin to shift for 

 themselves. With their two legs they excavate 

 the ground near the roots of herbs and plants, and 

 support themselves by gnawing these, and subsist- 

 ing on the juices, which exude in consequence of 

 their bites. In this state they remain until they 

 undergo another transformation, and, with them as 

 with the rest of the insect tribe, the passage from 

 a less to a more perfect state of being is one of 

 suffering and danger. The metamorphosis, though 

 completed in a few minutes, is performed with 

 great agitation and difficulty : many perish in this 

 severe effort of nature. In a short time, however, 

 the insect recovers, and finds itself provided with 

 wings. It takes possession of our meadows, and 

 fills the air with its incessant chirpings. This note, 

 which is produced by the male, is no sooner heard 

 than it is answered by another male, who, appa- 

 rently indignant, raises a shrill cry. After many 

 insults of this kind, the two insects meet and fight 

 for the female. 



