52 On the Locust of North- America. 



XV. Sotne particulars concerning the Locust of North- 

 America. Written at Nazareth, in Pennsylvania, 

 August 27th, 1793. Communicated to the Editor, 

 by the Reverend Mr. Charles Reichel, of Na- 

 zareth. 



BY the testimony of Jacob Rubel (of Bethle- 

 hem), who is 69 years of age, and has lived in dif- 

 ferent parts of Pennsylvania, ever since the year 1727, 

 it appears, that the Locusts were, at that time, far 

 more numerous in this country than they are at pre- 

 sent. They appeared, in great numbers, every year, 

 though it was observed, that about once in seven, 

 eight, or nine years, they abounded more than usual, 

 doing great damage to the apple and other fruit-trees. 



Mr. Rubel has not noticed the exact years when 

 they were most numerous ; but he recollects, that 

 some missionaries of the Brethren (Moravians), who 

 resided at Shamokin, on the Susquehanna, between 

 the years 1742 and 1750, informed him, that one of 

 those years (he cannot say precisely which) the lo- 

 custs covered, as it were, the woods in that district, 

 and large droves of swine were fattened upon them. 

 At the same time, none were seen on the other side 

 of the Susquehanna, which proves that their visits 

 are sometimes local. 



By other accounts, it seems, that once between the 

 years 1752 and 1758, and again in 1765, they were 

 very numerous, especially in the woods and orchards. 



