136 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations respecting 



of the plain j fields, vineyards, gai'dens and pastures, every thing 

 is laid waste; sometimes the only appearance left on the naked soil 

 is a revolting heat caused by their putrifying bodies, the stench of 

 whicli too often produces a devastating pestilence. 



y. The Dliiken, or Red Locust. 



I am in doubt what name to attribute to this species. The 

 Egyptians and Arabians esteem it as the fattest and most delicate 

 of the locusts. — Vid. Niebhur. At Bassorah, the Arabs call this 

 locust, which they are extremely partial to, Mulcen; when fat and 

 full of eggs it is esteemed a very strengthening food for men ; the 

 male Muken is lean, and therefore is not much eaten. 



4. T}ie Light Locust. 



Another species eaten by the Arabians is called the light locust: 

 it appears to be unknown to our European entomologists ; this, 

 when it arrives, is lean, and after it has lived well for a time is 

 called the Fat Locust. 



5. The Duhbe Locust. 



This species is by no means in request in Arabia^ and is scarcely 

 deemed esculent, because it tends to produce diarrhoea. Rocsel 

 tells us, that eating locusts is unwholesome, and produces winged 

 dog lice, or dog flies. This opinion, however, is disputed, and is 

 now not credited by travellers. 



6. Locusta gregaria, (Forskal, Gerrard,) or Red Skipper. 



This insect is considered as one of the most destructive to vege- 

 tation, and is most probably the Acridium of the ancients. An inte- 

 resting account relating to tliis species will be found in Blaquiere's 

 Travels. It is probably also the locust described by Belzoni, who 

 says they devour every thing. The natives eat them fried ; they 

 are about two inches in length, and are generally of a yellow or 

 gold colour, but there are some red, and some green. — Vid. Bel- 

 zoni. Colour is no criterion of species with respect to this locust, 

 and probably the remark will apply to others. When young it is 

 green ; as it grows it assumes a yellow hue, and lastly becomes 

 brown and red. There is an indifferent drawing of one of the 

 above insects in James Grey Jackson's Travels in Morocco. Vid. 

 third edition (1816), p. 102. 



