Migratory Locusts. 



413 



of Cyprus — described as the brightest jewel in the British crown — it was soon 

 discovered that the great drawback to its prosperity consisted of the enormous 

 swarms of locusts that almost perennially devastated it, and rendered culli\-ation 

 impossible. During the year i88t, the organized conflict against this enemy 

 resulted in the destruction of sixteen hundred millions of egg-cases, weighing thirteen 

 hundred tons. But this wholesale destruction of eggs appeared to have little 

 effect, for only two years later it was estimated that over five thousand 

 million egg-cases were deposited. Finally, however, the scourge was practically 

 wiped out by the ingenious device of Signor Matthei, who, noting that the swarms 

 always proceeded across the island in the same direction, suggested the erection 

 of nearly upright screens across their course with trenches at the base. A band of 

 polished leather was fixed across these screens and formed an impassable obstacle, 

 for their feet cannot cling to a smooth surface. The winged Insects could, of course, 

 save themselves by flight, but the main object of the plan was to destroy them 

 in the young stage, when they have not attained to egg-laying powers. As they 

 fell in thousands they were sho\'ellcd up and burnt in heaps ; or stamped down 

 in the pits. 



The Cypriote plan did not succeed to any appreciable extent in South Africa, 

 where the extent of countr}^ over which the voetgangers (as the Boers term the 

 early wingless stage) march is too extensive. But quite recentlv another plan has 

 been attended with complete success. This consists in setting apart a broad band 

 across their route, and, after excluding the domestic grazing animals from it, 

 sprinkling its vegetation liberallv with Paris green. The voetgangers feed on the 





Wandering Locust. 



[H. liastin. 



The most imiviTsal of tlie migratory locusts in its range, which takes in our own country, the Continent, .Arabia, .•Afghanistan, and 

 Northern India. It is believed also to visit South .\nurica. In India it is known as the north-west locust, that being the direction 

 from which its swarms arrive. 



