THE GRASSHOPPER, &c. 



481 





they come into Europe, is not easy to be ac- 

 counted for. It seems most probable, that, by 

 means of a very dry season, in the heart of 

 Africa, they are propagated in such numbers, 

 that the vegetables of the spot where they are 

 produced are not sufficient to sustain them. 

 Thus being obliged to find out other countries, 

 they traverse the sandy deserts, where they 

 can find no sustenance : still meeting with no- 

 thing to allure them from their height, they 

 proceed forward across the sea, and thus come 

 into Europe, where they alight upon the first 

 green pastures that occur. 



In some parts of the world the inhabitants 

 turn what seems a plague to their own advan- 

 tage. Locusts are eaten by the natives in 

 many kingdoms of the East ; and are caught 

 in small nets provided for that purpose. They 

 parch them over the fire in an earthen pan ; 

 and when their wings and legs are fallen off, 

 they turn reddish, of the colour of boiled 

 shrimps. Dampier has eaten them thus pre- 

 pared, and thinks them a tolerable dish. The 

 natives of Barbary also eat them fried with 

 salt ; and they are said to taste like cray-fish. 



There is a locust in Tonquin, about the big- 

 ness of the top of a man's finger, and as long 

 as the first joint. It breeds in the earth, in 

 low grounds ; and in the months of January 

 and February, which is the season for taking 

 them, they issue from the earth in vast swarms. 

 At first they can hardly fly, so that they often 

 fall into the rivers in great numbers : however, 

 the natives in these months watch the rivers, 

 and take them up in multitudes in small nets. 

 They either eat them fresh, broiled on the 

 coals, or pickle them for keeping. They are 

 considered as a great delicacy in that part of 

 the world, as well by the rich as the poor. In 

 the countries where they are eaten, they are 

 regularly brought to market, and sold as larks 

 or quails in Europe. They must have been a 

 common food with the Jews, as Moses, in the 

 book of Leviticus, permits them to eat four 

 different kinds of this animal, which he takes 

 care to specify. This dish, however, has not 

 yet made its way into the kitchens of the lux- 



of well-cultivated land. While changing horses, I wit- 

 nessed what was to me a very curious sight a vast 

 flight of locusts, extendin g fifteen miles, suddenly made 

 their appearance from the east, and came in a huge pha- 

 lanx to attack the crops. In an instant every villager 

 was on the road to his own field. Some took dogs, others 

 were on horseback, and others ran shouting and clapping 

 their hands all the way, the inhabitants finding from ex- 

 perience that the locusts very much dislike noise. My 

 fellow-traveller told me, that in the colony of Harass, 

 when the locusts come in sight, not only all the inhabi- 

 tants, but the military turn out, and endeavour to drive 

 them off, by drums and fifes, and a perpetual discharge 

 of musketry. The enemy, thus repulsed, make a speedy 

 retreat and commit their depredations on' the land of 

 those who are less on the alert to resist them. Captain 

 KeppeVs Travels. 



VOL. II. 



urious in Europe ; and though we may ad- 

 mire the delicacies of the East, we are as yet 

 happily deprived of the power of imitation. 



Of all animals, however, of this noxious 

 tribe, the Great West Indian Locust, indivi- 

 dually considered, is the most formidable. It 

 is about the thickness of the barrel of a goose- 

 quill, and the body is divided into nine or ten 

 joints ; in the whole, about six or seven inches 

 long. It has two small eyes standing out of 

 the head, like those of crabs; and two feelers, 

 like long hair. The whole body is studded 

 with small excrescences, which are not much 

 bigger than the points of pins. The shape is 

 roundish, and the body diminishes in circum- 

 ference to the tail, which is forked into two 

 horns. Between this, there is a sort of a 

 sheath containing a small dangerous sting. If 

 any person happens to touch this insect, he is 

 sure to be stung ; and is immediately taken 

 with a shivering and trembling all over the 

 body; which, however, may soon be put a 

 stop to, by rubbing the place that was affected 

 with a little palm oil. 1 



From the locust we descend to the Cricket, 

 which is a very inoffensive and pretty animal. 

 Though there be a species of this insect that 

 lives entirely in the woods and fields, yet that 

 with which we are best acquainted is the 

 House-cricket, whose voice is so well known 

 behind a country fire in a winter's evening. 

 There is something so unusual in hearing a 

 sound while we do not see the animal produc- 

 ing it, nor discover the place from whence it 

 comes, that, among the country people, the 

 chirping of the cricket is always held ominous; 

 and whether it deserts the fire-side, or pays an 

 unexpected visit, the credulous peasantry al- 

 ways find something to be afraid of. In ge- 

 neral, however, the killing of a cricket is con- 

 sidered as a most unlucky omen : and though 

 their company is not much desired, yet no me- 

 thods must be taken to remove them. 2 



1 It is now known that every insect of this tribe is per- 

 fectly harmless. 



2 The Cricket. While many other insects must be 

 sought after in fields, and woods, and waters, the gryl- 

 lus domesticus, or house-cricket, resides altogether with- 

 in our dwellings, intruding itself upon our notice whe- 

 ther we will or not. This species delights in new-built 

 houses, being, like the spider, pleased with the moisture 

 of the walls ; and, besides, the softness of the mortar en- 

 ables them to burrow and mine between the joints of the 

 bricks or stones, and to open communications from one 

 room to another. They are particularly fond of kitchens 

 and bakers' ovens, on account of their perpetual warmth. 



Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the 

 short period of one summer, or else doze away the cold 

 uncomfortable months in profound slumbers; but these, 

 residing as it were in a torrid zone, are always alert and 

 merry; a good Christmas fire is to them like the heats 

 of the dog-days. Though they are frequently heard by 

 day, yet is their natural time of motion only in the niglit. 

 As soon as it grows dusk, the chirping increases, and 

 they come running forth, and are from the size of a /lea 

 3 p 



