104 LOCUSTID^— LOCUSTS. 



diminish their numbers. Notwithstanding this, nothing 

 could be more astonishing than their multiplication, for the 

 fecundity of the Locust is very remarkable. Upon an order 

 issued by government, for the collection of their eggs, more 

 than three thousand measures were collected, from each of 

 which, it was calculated, would liave issued nearly two mil- 

 lions of young ones.^ In 1650, they entered Russia, in im- 

 mense divisions, in three different places ; thence passed over 

 into Poland and Lithuania, where the air was darkened by 

 their numbers. In many parts they lay dead to the depth 

 of four feet. Sometimes they covered the surface of the 

 earth like a dark cloud, loaded the trees, and the destruc- 

 tion which they produced exceeded all calculation. ^ In 

 1645, immense swarms visited the islands of Formosa and 

 Tayowan, and caused such a famine that eight thousand 

 persons died of hunger.^ 



" In 1649," says Sir Hans Sloane, "the Locusts destroyed 

 all the products of the island of Teneriffe. They came from 

 the coast of Barbary, the wind being a Levant thence. 

 They flew as far as they could, then one alighted in the sea, 

 and another on it, so that one after another they made a 

 heap as big as the greatest ship above water, and were es- 

 teemed almost as many under. Those above water, next 

 day, after the sun's refreshing them, took flight again, and 

 came in clouds to the island, whence the inhabitants had 

 perceived them in the air, and had gathered all the soldiers 

 of the island and of Laguna together, being t or 8000 men, 

 who laying aside their arms, some took bags, some spades, 

 and having notice by their scouts from the hills when they 

 alighted, they went straight thither, made trenches, and 

 brought their bags full, and covered them with mould. . . . 

 After two months fruitless management of them in this 

 manner, the ecclesiastics took them in hand by penances, etc. 

 But all would not do : the Locusts staid their four months ; 

 cattle eat them and died, and so did several men, and others 

 stuck out in botches. The other Canary islands were so 

 troubled, also, that they were forced to bury their provi- 

 sions. They were troubled forty years before with the like 

 calamity."^ 



^ Cuvier, An. Kingd. — Ins., ii. 212. 



2 Bingley, Anim. Biog., iii. 258. 



^ Hist, of Ins. (Murray, 4888), ii. 188. 



^ Nat. Hist, of Jam.., quot. in Gent. Mag., xviii. 3G2. 



