LOCUST. 



bers and voracity constitute one of the severest 

 pests of the hotter regions of the globe, occasion- 

 ally committing the most dreadful ravages, and 

 converting the most fertile provinces into the ap- 

 pearance of barren deserts. 



Amons: the most noxious species is the Gnillus 

 migratori us of LinnaBiis, or common mi oratory 

 locust, which of all the insects capable of injuring 

 mankind seems to possess the most dreadful powers 

 of destruction. Legions of these animals are from 

 time to time observed in various parts of the world, 

 where the havoc they commit is almost incredible: 

 whole provinces are in a manner desolated by 

 them in the space of a few days, and the air is 

 darkened by their numbers: nay even when dead 

 they are still terrible; since the putrefaction aris- 

 ing from their inconceivable number is such that 

 it has been regarded as one of the probable causes 

 of pestilence in the Eastern regions. This formid- 

 able Locust is generally of a brownish colour, 

 varied with pale red or flesh-colour, and the legs 

 are frequently blueish. In the year 1748 it ap- 

 peared in irregular flights in several parts of Eu- 

 rope, as in Germany, France, and England; and 

 in this capital itself and its neighbourhood great 

 numbers were seen: they perished however in a 

 short time, and were happily not productive of 

 any material mischief, having been probably 

 driven by some irregular wind out of their in- 

 tended course, and weakened by the coolness of 

 the climate. 



From a paper published in the 18th volume of 

 v. vi. P. i. 9 



