LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. Ill 



there remained not any green thing in the trees, 

 or in the herbs of the field, through all the land 

 of Egypt." It is of such locusts as these that 

 I am now about to tell you. 



They are so different, both in habits and ap- 

 pearance, from those of which I have already 

 spoken, that it seems hardly proper to call them 

 by the same name. They are very much like 

 our common grasshopper in shape, although 

 much larger, being about three inches in length. 

 They are of a reddish color, beautifully varie- 

 gated with yellow and black, and their wings 

 are of different shades of green. Their long hind 

 legs enable them to leap to a considerable dis- 

 tance, and their large gauze-like wings carry 

 them rapidly through the air. They are the 

 most destructive insects of which we have any 

 knowledge. They are common in Africa and 

 the southern part of Asia, and have sometimes 

 been seen in Europe, passing over the country 

 in vast swarms, tearing off the twigs and leaves 

 of trees, devouring young plants, and, in short, 

 destroying almost every green thing that comes 

 in their way ; but of this I will give you a par- 

 ticular account presently. It is better to begin 





