T H E L O C U S T. 18 



J 



The Great Brown Locust was feen in feveral parts of England in 

 1748, and many dreadful confequences were apprehended from its ap- 

 pearance. This infeft is three inches long, and has two feelers an inch 

 in length. The head and horns are brownifh ; about the nnouth blue, 

 as alfo the infide of the larger legs ; the (hield on the back greenifh j the 

 upper fide of the body brown, fpotted with black, the under fide purple ; 

 the upper wings brown, with fmall duflcy fpots, a larger at the tips j the 

 under wings tranfparent, light brown, tin<5tured with green, a dark cloud 

 of fpots near the tips. This infeft has threatened us often with its vifita- 

 tions ; and is truly terrible where it is bred. No animal in the creation 

 multiplies fo faft, if the fun be warm, and the foil in which their eggs 

 are depofited dry. 



When locufts take the field, we are afTured they have a leader whofc 

 flight they obferve, and pay a fiirift attention to. They appear, at a dif- 

 tance, like a black cloud, which, as it approaches, gathers on the hori- 

 zon, and almoft hides the light of the day. Often the hufbandman fees 

 this imminent calamity pafs away, and the whole fwarm proceed onward 

 to fome lefs fortunate country : but wretched is the diftrict on which they 

 fettle ; they ravage the meadow and the arable ground j ftrip the trees of 

 their leaves, and the garden of its beauty : a few minutes deftroy the ex- 

 pedlations of a year, and induce famine. In the tropical climates they are 

 not fo dreadful as in the fouthern parts of Europe ; for there the power 

 of vegetation is fo great, that a fmall interval repairs the calamity : but 

 our verdure muft wait the enfuing fpring to repair the damage ; befides, 

 in their long flights to thefe parts, they arefamifiied, and therefore more 

 voracious where they fettle. But what they devour is not equal in da- 

 mage to what they deftroy. Their bite is thought to contaminate the 

 plant, and prevent its vegetation. To ufe the exprefllon of the hufband- 

 man, they burn whatever they touch, and leave the marks of their de- 

 vaftation for two or three years enfuing. But, if noxious while living, 

 they are worfe when dead ; wherever they fall, they infccl the air, and 

 the fmell is infupportable. 



In the year 1690, a cloud of locufts entered Ruflia in three places, 

 and fpread themfelves over Poland and Lithuania, in fuch aftonilhing 

 multitudes, that the air was darkened, and the earth covered with their 

 numbers. In fome places they were fcen lying dead, heaped on each 

 other four feet deep ; in others, they covered the furface like a bhick 

 cloths the trees bent beneath their weight ; and the damage \vhich the 



country 



