112 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



at the beginning; and we will first see how 

 these insects are hatched. The eggs are laid 

 in a hole or cell made in the ground, the inside 

 of which is carefully lined with cement, and the 

 top sealed over with the same substance, and 

 then covered with earth. Each of these cells 

 contains about a million eggs, all of which hatch 

 nearly at the same time, and the little insects, 

 each covered with a shell or case, such as I have 

 described to you in the account of the American 

 Locust, creep out and commence their march in 

 search of food, all travelling in the same direc- 

 tion. And now the work of destruction com- 

 mences; for the hungry little beings devour 

 every thing as they go, making the country de- 

 solate before them. 



They eat and grow so rapidly, that in about 

 a week they are ready for their change ; 

 when they climb up the stalk of a plant, burst 

 the skins which cover them, and come forth the 

 beautiful, winged insects I have described to 

 you. 



For several days they leap about the ground, 

 and try their wings with short flights ; but as 

 soon as they feel themselves sufficiently strong, 



