States are altogether unacquainted with the 

 scourge of any species of migratory locust, yet 

 we shall have occasion at a future time, to 

 speak of several species found within the limits 

 of our territory, that have already proved a very 

 serious evil. 



There seems to be little doubt, that a species, 

 probably the G. migratorius, constituted one of 

 the plagues of Egypt mentioned in the Bible; 

 and that John the Baptist was compelled to use 

 them for food during his sojourn in the wilder- 

 ness. 



Even at the present day, the inhabitants of 

 divers countries of Africa, make great use of 

 these destructive insects for food. For this pur- 

 pose, the insect requires but little preparation, 

 and we believe the hemelytra and wings are 

 always rejected, whether it is to be eaten fresh, 

 or salted. In the latter state, they are constantly 

 exposed for sale in the markets of the Levant, 

 and they are known to be a considerable article 

 of commerce in that region. 



Many travellers assure us that they constitute 

 an agreeable food; according to Shaw, when 

 fried with a little salt, they have the taste of the 

 Cray-fish, a crustaceous animal like a miniature 

 lobster, abounding in our fresh w^ater streams. 



PLATE XXXIV. R 



