INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE VINE. 305 



The injuries caused by the mole-cricket have been confounded 

 with those produced by the larva of the cockchaffer ; for we find 

 from a Dictionary of Agriculture, recently published/ the name 

 Courterolle has been given to both insects in several cantons of 

 France. 



5. Gaza. — The Saddled Locust. — Locusta ephippiger. — Wingless 

 Locust. — Locusta aptera. — Pupa-like Locust. — Locusta puppa. 



It will be recollected that our examination of the word Gaza^ 

 as employed by the prophets Amos and Joel, served to show 

 that their Gaza was an insect eminently destructive not only to 

 the vine but to every kind of plant ; and that its ravages were 

 succeeded by those of several kinds of locusts, who completed 

 the work of destruction, devouring every thing which this 

 formidable insect had left. The Septuagint and the Vulgate 

 translate Gaza by the word " caterpillar," and the Chaldean 

 version by " crawling locust," that is to say, without wings, or 

 apterous. 



If we pay attention to the facts, that in Ptolemy's time the 

 Jews of Egypt, to whom we are indebted for the Greek trans- 

 lation of the Bible, were only imperfectly acquainted with 

 Hebrew, which was to them a dead language ; that St. Jerome, 

 whose translation was the basis of the Vulgate, in regard of 

 the designation of material objects, had still less acquaintance 

 with Hebrew, we shall see that the Chaldean version is here a 

 higher authority than either of the others; and when we have 

 consulted the works of Messieurs Rosenmiiller and CEdmann," 

 who have discussed this critical question with equal sagacity and 

 learning, we shall be convinced, in spite of the contrary opinion 

 of Michaelis and Bochart, that the four different words employed 

 by Amos and Joel as names of insects, all designate locusts. 



We consider that the observations of M. Shaw, a judicious 

 traveller, set this matter completely at rest. He tells us that in 

 Africa it frequently happens, that in March and April the lo- 

 custs, driven by the south wind, darken the sky, and increasing 



^ Baron de Morogue, Cows coviplet d' Agriculture, 1834, 8vo. vol. vii. p. 349, on 

 the word Courterolle. 



" Rosenmiiller, Handbuch der Biblische, &c. Leipsik, 4„ band. 1831, 8vo. pp. 

 386 and 388 ; QSdmann Vermischle Sammlungen, &c. aus dem Schwcdischen, 

 Uebersetz von D. Groning, 1787, 12mo.2"bcirt. pp 110" and 117. 



