THE LOCUST. 



When the locusts make their destructive invasions, 

 they appear at a distance like a black cloud gathering 

 in the horizon, which, as it approaches, almost hides 

 the face of day. Sometimes the husbandman sees- 

 this iminent danger pass over his head without doing 

 him any mischief; and the whole swarm proceeds for- 

 ward to settle upon some less fortunate country j and 

 wretched is the place where they alight. Every 

 trace of vegetation immediately disappears; the visi- 

 tation of a tew minutes destroys the expectations of 

 a year; every thing that grows is immediately de- 

 voured, and nothing but barren desolation left behind 

 them. But if they be noxious when living, they arc 

 mill more so when dead ; for wherever they die, they 

 infect the air in such a manner that the smell is insup- 

 portable.. 



These desolating insects are seldom seen in Eng- 

 land; although in the year 1748, a few of them made 

 their appearance here, from which dreadful conse- 

 quences were apprehended; but happily they were 

 not followed by any numerous swarms. The annals, 

 however, of most countries, are marked with the de- 

 vastations made by their devouring multitudes; and al- 

 though they do not visit Europe in such destructive 

 swarms as formerly, yet, in some of the southern coun- 

 tries they are still formidable. Those which at uncer- 

 tain intervals have visited this quarter wf the globe, are 

 generally supposed to. have come from Afriqa. 



In several countries the inhabitants turn this pest 

 in some measure to their advantage. Locusts are cut en 

 ,by the natives in many of the eastern countries, being 

 caught iu small nets provided for that purpose. They 

 parch them over the fire in an earthen pan, and when 

 their legs and wings are fallen of}', they turn reddi.-li 

 like, boiled shrimps. Dampier, who had eaten them 

 thus prepared, describes them as a tolerable dish. 

 They appear to have constituted a considerable arti- 

 cle of food among the ancient anchorites; and John 

 the Baptist is represented as living, in a great mea- 

 sure, on locusts and wild honey. Such is the history 

 o-f this destructive insect, which, in scriptural Ian- 



