54 On the Locust of North- America. 



opinion, that the eggs, for three or more years, suc- 

 cessively, sink deeper and deeper into the mould ; 

 then turn i-nto a chrysalis, and afterwards, during the 

 same number of years, continue rising. 



Be this as it may, it appears, from actual observa- 

 tions, that seven, eight, or nine years, after the eggs 

 of these insects have been deposited in the branches 

 of the trees, an infinite number of aurclias make their 

 way out of the earth, in a direction nearly perpendi- 

 cular. At first, they are moist, soft, and of a whitish 

 colour : but, by the heat of the sun, they soon be- 

 come brown, dry, and consistent ; and, after a few 

 days, expand and produce the locusts. This com- 

 monly takes place at the end of May, or the begin- 

 ing of June, when deep, round holes, about half an 

 inch in diameter, the passages of the locusts out of 

 the earth, may be seen under most apple, cherry, and 

 other trees, whether the ground be a stiff clay, gra- 

 velly, hard-beaten, and apparently impenetrable to any 

 creature of so small a size, that is not endued with 

 extraordinary strength, and powers of action. 



The preceding facts are curious, and might seem 

 incredible, were we not acquainted with other pheno- 

 mena of nature equally wonderful and astonishing. 

 The subject, undoubtedly, deserves more attention 

 than seems hitherto to have been paid to it. 



There are several properties ascribed to the locust 

 of North-America, which seem perfectly unaccount- 

 able; such as its long continuance in the egg and 



