of North Carolina. 167 



but in the latter end of Spring they are hatched, and in S)U)n- 

 mer become Locusts. These Insects burn Corn, Grass, and 

 most kinds of plants by touching, and devour the residue ; 

 and it is reported that in India, there be of them three Foot 

 in length, which the People of that Country do eat and use 

 their Legs and thighs for Saws when they are thoroughly 

 dry : St. John the Baptist fed upon them in the Wilderness. 

 They are often carried over great Seas, and continue their 

 flight for several Days together, in such vast Numbers that 

 they are said to darken the very Sun as they flie, and to be 

 certain prognostications of a Plague or famine, in whatever 

 Country they settle, and burn and destroy every thing before 

 them, and 'tis likewise said, that they will kill Serpents; yet 

 these pernicious and distructive Insects are not very common 

 in Carolina. Their Eggs given in Rhenish Wine, help the 

 Dropsie, and the fume of the fly helps stoppage of Urine in 

 Women. 



The Caterpillar, Palmer or Canher-worm, is the same in 

 Carolina as is to be met with in Ireland, and many other parts 

 of Europe. These Insects are very destructive to Herbs and 

 Corn, if there be not care taken to prevent them, which is done 

 by the fume of Brimstone. They change like Silk-worms, 

 and in process of time become Butter-flies. Their Ashes put 

 into the Nostrils, stop Bleeding. A powder made of them is 

 said to be good in the Epilepsy, and their Web is said to stop 

 the Flux of Women's courses. 



The Gally-ivorm is a short kind of Scolopender, exceeding 

 in Number of Feet all other Insects. Some of them are 

 smooth, others hairy all over, they are about the thick- 

 ness of a ]\Ian's little Finger, and near two Inches long. 

 They are not plenty in this Province, having several enemies 

 that destroy them. Their Ashes wonderfully provoke Urine, 



the 



