RAVAGES OF LOCUSTS. 249 



high, and extending to a distance of nearly fifty miles. 

 When this mass became putrid, and the wind was at 

 south-east, the stench was sensibly felt in several 

 parts of Sneuwberg, although distant at least a hun- 

 dred and fifty miles * 



Pallas gives a more detailed account of the daily 

 proceedings of the larvae of the Italian locust {Lo- 

 custa Italica^ Leach). " In serene weather," he 

 tells us, " the locusts are in full motion in the morn- 

 ing, immediately after the evaporation of the dew ; 

 and if no dew has fallen, they appear as soon as the 

 sun imparts his genial warmth. At first, some are 

 seen running about like messengers among the re- 

 posing swarms, which are lying partly compressed 

 upon the ground at the side of small eminences, and 

 partly attached to tall plants and shrubs. Shortly 

 after the whole body begins to move forward in one 

 direction, and with little deviation. They resemble a 

 swarm of ants, all taking the same course, at small 

 distances, but without touching each other; they 

 uniformly travel towards a certain region as fast as a 

 fly can run, and without leaping, unless pursued ; 

 in which case, indeed, they disperse, but soon collect 

 again and follow their former route. In this manner 

 they advance from morning to evening without halt- 

 ing, frequently at the rate of a hundred fathoms, and 

 upwards, in the course of a day. Although they pre- 

 fer marching along high roads, foot-paths, or open 

 tracts, yet, when their progress is opposed by bushes, 

 hedges, and ditches, they penetrate through them : 

 their way can only be impeded by the waters of 

 brooks or canals, as they are apparently terrified at 

 every kind of moisture. Often, however, they en- 

 deavour to gain the opposite bank, with the aid of 

 overhanging boughs ; and, if the stalks of plants or 

 shrubs be laid across the water, they pass in close 

 * Barrow's Travels in South Africa, p. 257. 



