\G IMPERFECT SOCIETIES OF IXSFX'TS'. 



they acqviire wings they progressively disperse, but still 

 fly about in large swarms-^." 



" In the month of May, when the ovaries of these 

 insects were ripe and turgid," says Dr. Shaw^, "each 

 of these swarms began gradually to disappear, and re- 

 tired into the Mettijiah, and otiier adjacent plains, 

 where they deposited their eggs. These were no sooner 

 hatched in June, than each of the broods collected it- 

 self into a compact body, of a furlong or more in square ; 

 and marching afterwards directly forwards toward the 



sea, they let nothing escape them thcj/ kept their 



ranks, like men of war; climbing over, as they advanced, 

 every tree or wall that was in their way ; nay, they en- 

 tered into our very houses and bed-chambers, like so 



many thieves. A day or two after one of these hordes 



was in motion, others were already hatched to march 



and glean after them. Having- lived near a month 



in this manner they arrived at their full growth, 



and threw oft* their nijnipha- stale by casting their out- 

 v/ard skin. To prepare themselves for this change, 

 they clung by their hinder feet to some bush, twig, or 

 corner of a stone; and immediately, by using an undu- 

 lating motion, their heads would first break out, and 

 then tiie rest of their bodies. The whole transforma- 

 tion was performed in seven or eiglit minutes; after 

 which they lay for a small time in a torpid and seem- 

 ingly in a languishing condition ; but as soon as the 

 sun and the air had hardened their wings, by drying 

 up the moisture that remained upon them after cast- 

 ing their sloughs, they reassumed their former vora- 

 city, with an addition of strength and agility. Yet 

 " Pallas, ii. 4':'2-tJ. "^ TrmzUy 187. 



