146 THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



to pierce the ears of young people. The popular 

 error has perhaps arisen from some misconception thus 

 suggested. 



" The statements made to the effect that in Algeria 

 the attacks of locusts are a most serious scourge to 

 the inhabitants are, however, no error, but unfortu- 

 nately are only too true. The whole of the vegeta- 

 tion, even to the last leaf, is destroyed and every 

 green blade has disappeared after the visit of one 

 of these immense clouds. They are so dense and 

 consist of such enormous numbers that in 1874 the 

 railway in the province of Algeria was blocked by 

 them. 



" Indeed, the greater part of the insects of this order 

 are very prolific. Ships have been infested with 

 BlattaB to such an extent that it has been found 

 necessary to have recourse to organised fumigations 

 to destroy them, and they were afterwards taken 

 away by bushels.* 



" We have now, I believe, passed in review all the 

 orders of insects." 



" All, all ? " asked Bene*, with a mysterious intona- 

 tion, something like that which the sphinx of Thebes 

 must have adopted when, according to legend, he 

 proposed his charades to those passing by. 



* In Cyprus, during the autumn and winter of 1881, 1,330 tons of the 

 eggs of locusts were destroyed at the instigation of the British Government. 

 Translator. 



