39 



Mountains in Arizona and New Mexico ; they breed also, thcrj can be no doubt, in the 

 regions that they invade, but owing to differences of climate, these broods do not always 

 mature. They delight most in a very dry, hot atmosphere. 



Like many other species of Orthoptera, the males produce sounds by means of an appa- 

 ratus that may be " likened to a violin, their legs being the bows, and the proji'cting veins of 

 their wing-covers the strings. When a locust begins to play, he bends the shank of one hind 

 leg beneath the thigh, where it is lodged in a furrow designed to receive it, and then draws 

 the leg briskly up and down several times against the projecting lateral edge and veins 

 of the wing-cover. He does not play both fiddles together, but alternately, for a little time, 

 first one and then the other, standing meanwhile upon the four anterior legs and the hind leg 

 which is not otherwise employed." (Harris.) When in flight, the swarm produces a loud 

 pattering sound, which as Dr. Thomas remarks, is probably due to the beating of the air by 

 the wings, as it is not confined to the male .sex. If any of our readers are curious upon the 

 subject of insect music, they will find an interesting paper upon '' the Songs of the Grasshop- 

 pers," by oijr much esteemed friend, Mr. Scudder, in the Aiiu'rican Nadiralist (vol. 9, pagt- 

 113); in it not only is the apparatus described, but the notes are set to music, and no douli 

 can be sung by any accomplished vocalist !' 



Before closing this portion of our remarks, we would acknowledge our indebtedness, and 

 call attention, to the admirable '■ Synopsis of the Acrididre of North America," by the Rev. 

 €yrus Thomas, Ph.D., published by the Government of the United States as a portion of Dr. 

 Hayden's Report on the U. S. Geological Survey of the Territories. It is m:ignificently 

 printed in quarto form, and is a complete monograph of the family. We take this opportu- 

 nity of thanking Dr. Hayden for his courtesy in favouring us with a copy. 



MEANS OP REDUCING THE RAVAGES OF THE LOCUSTS. 



When a species of insect comes in countless millions suddenly, without any forewarning, 

 upon a locality hundreds of miles away, it may be, from its place of birth, and devour,* in a 

 single day every green thing upon the surface of the country, it seems almost impossible to 

 suggest any remedy. Something, however, may, we believe, be done, but any measure to be 

 in the least degree efficacious must be adopted universally over a large area of country. Before 

 considering any method of combatting the plague, we must mention one remedy that lias been 

 received by the press with some degree of amusement, though gravely propounded by the 

 editors of the American N'aturalist. After referring to the destitution in iMinnesota and the 

 application from its State authorities to the general government for aid, they put the ques- 

 tion : — 



" Why should not the grasshopper be eaten in turn ?' Why not, indeed ? For, as 

 they state, " the grasshopper, or locust of the East, is universally eaten in portions of Africa 

 and Western Asia, and pronounced a nutritious and palatable article of diet by Arab chiefs 

 as well as Hottentot savages. Tiiey are eaten roasted whole, minus the legs, or roasted and 

 powdered. We would recommend that experiments be made as to the best modes of prepar- 

 ing the locust for food. They should be thoroughly cooked to guard against parasitic worms. 

 Not willing to urge the use of grasshoppers as food for others, without first eating them our- 

 selves, we may say that we have found the gras.shojiper, first killed by boiling water, and then 

 fried in butter, at least as palatable as many artieles of food eaten by civilized people; and to 

 people actually famishing, as is said to be the ca.se in Minnesota, it will be worth their while 

 to avail themselves of a food stuff which millions, perhaps, of people in other lands regard as 

 wholesome." 



In corroboration of this use of the locusts, we may add, that Dr. Livingstone speaks 

 highly of the locust as an article of food in Africa, and considers them superior to shrimps. 

 Honey, when it can be obtained, is often eaten with them, and, while improving the flavour, 

 renders them more digestible. We need hardly remind our readers that this was the food of 

 St. John the Baptist in the wilderness. The ancient historian, Herodotus, relates that lo- 

 custs are used for food, being first dried in the sun, than reduced to powder, and drunk in 

 milk. In his well-known work, on South Africa, Gumming states that "Locusts afford fat- 

 tening and wholesome food to man, birds and all sorts of beasts ; cows, horses, lions, jackals, 

 hyoenas, antelopes, elephants, &c., devo.ir them. Our hungry dogs made a fine feast on 

 them We roa.st.d a quantity for ourselves and our dOj^s." Kirby and Spencet 



