The Locusts: their Function 



her rasping note, what is it that she seeks? 

 Seeds, no doubt, but, above all things, Lo- 

 custs, who puff her out under the wings with 

 a pad of fat and give greater flavour to her 

 flesh. 



The Hen, much to our advantage, is just 

 as fond of them. She well knows the virtues 

 of that dainty dish, which acts as a tonic and 

 increases her laying-capacity. When left at 

 liberty, she hardly ever fails to lead her 

 family to the stubble-fields, so that they may 

 learn how to snap up the exquisite -mouthful 

 deftly. In fact, all the denizens of the 

 poultry-yard, when free to wander about at 

 will, owe to the Locust a valuable addition 

 to their diet. 



It becomes a much more important matter 

 outside our domestic fowls. If you are a 

 sportsman, if you are able to appreciate the 

 value of the Red-legged Partridge, the glory 

 of our southern hills, open the crop of the 

 bird which you have just brought down. 

 You will see that it contains a splendid cer- 

 tificate to the services rendered by the much- 

 maligned insect. You will find it, nine times 

 out of ten, more or less crammed with Lo- 

 custs. The Partridge dotes on them, pre- 

 fers them to seed as long as he is able to 



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