224 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



witli a fine breeze from the south-east, was, on the 2 1st 

 of Nov. 181 1, all at once becalmed. "A li^ht air after- 

 wards sprang- up from the north-east, at which time 

 there fell from the cloud an innumerable quantity of 

 large grasshoppers, so as to cover the deck, the tops, 

 and every part of the ship they could alight upon. They 

 did not appear in the least exhausted ; on the contrary, 

 when an attempt was made to take hold of them, they 

 instantly jumped, and endeavoured to elude being 

 taken. The calm, or a very light air, lasted fully an hour, 

 and during the whole of the time these insects conti- 

 nued to fall upon the ship and surround her : such as 

 were within reach of the vessel alighted upon her; but 

 immense numbers fell into the sea, and were seen float- 

 ing in masses by the sides." Two bottles of them were 

 preserved for inspection; the insects were of a reddish 

 hue, with red and gray speckled wings. It is clear from 

 this account, if it be admitted as authentic, that locusts 

 can go far from land when the wind is strong, and like- 

 wise it seems equally clear that in a calm they cannot 

 support themselves in the air. The principal difficulty 

 is, how these locusts could make their way against the 

 wind, which they must have done if they came with the 

 black cloud, as the words seem to intimate. Perhaps 

 this cloud was brought by a different current of air from 

 that which impelled the ship. 



With respect to the course which the locusts pursue, 

 Hasselquist has observed that they migrate in a direct 

 meridian line from south to north, passing from the de- 

 serts of Arabia, which is the great cradle of them, to 

 Palestine, Syria, Carmania, Natolia, Bithynia, Coii- 

 stantinoploj Poland, &c. — they never turn either to the 



