10 PRIZE KSSAY : 



by clouds of grasshoppers, locusts, and flies of various kinds, 

 the narrative frequently stands alone, wthout informing us by 

 what proWdential interposition the plague was stayed, or what 

 human efforts were made to arrest the scourge and guard against 

 its return. 



3. This arose, no doubt, in great i)art, from the migratorj' 

 character of the insect depredators, coming, as many species 

 did, from distant and uninhabited lands, where their increase 

 was unnoticed, and perhaps, even their presence generally un- 

 known, thus rendering all human eflForts absolutely futile in the 

 attempt to stay the insect plague. 



4. In part also from the unaccountable disappearance in a 

 single season of the dreaded enemy, with perfect immunity from 

 its attacks during many succeeding years, thus allowing an event 

 which had struck terror among entire nations to pass from re- 

 membrance, until a renewal of its ravages produced similar alarm 

 and destruction, to be again deplored and forgotten. Such, 

 indeed, is the case at the present day, but with this difference, 

 that while we are subject to as great or even greater dangers 

 arising from insects which have made their home in our midst 

 than our forefathers were, an effort is now made to guard against 

 their destructive attacks, by acquiring and spreading a know- 

 ledge of their habits and history, so that those remedial measures 

 may be adopted which experience and accurate information 

 suggest. 



o. It is highly important to distinguish between the sudden 

 invasion of an infinite multitude of insects from distant lands 

 and the gradual increase of those which have taken up their 

 permanent abode with us, and multiply upon the fruits of our 

 toil. The foreign invader suddenly appearing in innumerable 

 hosts, requires for his subjection and destruction a power inli- 

 nitelv greater than man can call to his aid ; while the increase 



