172 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. XII. 



28th June. — The locust has appeared on the 

 Danube and Theisse in such numbers, that we are 

 reduced to the direst necessity. They cover a cir- 

 cle of four miles, and not a blade of grass is to be 

 seen. Their colour is brown, and when we drive 

 them into the water, they swim to the opposite 

 shore. When they have consumed all, they leave 

 an intolerable stench behind. It is all over with 

 harvest ; we go out three or four thousand together, 

 driving our cattle before us, to slay these pests, but 

 the slaughter of 100,000 only makes place for 

 100,000 more. 



Vienna, 3d July. — The plague of the locust is 

 extending from Lower Hungary ; and the reports 

 from Funfkirchen say, that they have taken wing, 

 and crossed the Danube in such countless myriads 

 as to darken the sun. In one night they have so 

 completely destroyed the grass and the foliage of 

 trees, that they now look like bare brooms. 



Clausenberg, 30th June. — The locusts which have 

 taken possession of our district, are red. They 

 have fixed particularly on the banks of the Marasch, 

 near Sarvoras, and have covered a circle of four 

 Hungarian miles, in such numbers, that, independent 

 of those killed by accident, we have felled and burnt 

 four thousand baskets full. They consume the pro- 

 duce of the whole land. 



Hermanstadt, 10th July. — Prayers are offered up 

 in all places in which the quail and the locust have 

 not as yet been sent. The latter are coming from 

 Carlsbad here. The vineyards, which are wonder- 

 fully prolific, are alone untouched by these insects. 

 Every other thing which they meet with on their 

 march, the herbage, the forest leaves, and even the 

 bread in the houses, is booty and food for them. 



24th July. — To-day they have poured in on us in 

 myriads, and we have in vain tried every thing to 

 oppose their victorious career. Six thousand men 

 sallied forth with flails and such other utensils, but 



