The Locust. 567 



shape, while ail the rudiments of the future Grasshopper 

 are concealed under a thin outward skin, it retires under 

 a thistle or a thorn-bush, most likely in order to be more 

 secure ; and there, after a variety of laborious exertions, 

 writhings, and palpitations, the temporary covering 

 divides, arid the insect jumps out of its exumse. 



THE LOCUST. (Locusta migratoria.) 



THE Bible, which was written in a country where the 

 Locust made a distinguished figure among natural pro- 

 ductions, has given us several very striking images of 

 these animals' numbers and rapacity. It compares an 

 army to a swarm of locusts : it describes them as rising 

 out of the earth, where they are produced ; as pursuing 

 a settled march to destroy the fruits of the earth ; and as 

 the frequent instruments of Divine indignation. 



The native countries of the Locust are Central Asia 

 and the North of Africa, but they migrate every year to 

 Europe, where they desti oy every green thing they meet 

 with. Other species of Locusts are met with in various 

 parts of the world, which, like the true migratory Lo- 

 cust, pass from place to place in vast flocks, causing 

 immense damage wherever they take up their temporary 

 abode. 



When the Locusts take the field they have a leader 

 at their head, whose flight they observe, and to whose 

 motions they pay a strict attention. They appear at a 

 distance like a black cloud, which, as it approaches, 

 gathers upon the horizon, and almost hides the light of 

 the day. It often happens that the husbandman sees 

 this imminent calamity pass away without doing him any 



