ZS6 INSECTS. 



country fuftained exceeded computation. In 1724, Dodor Shaw was a 

 witnefs inBarbary of their devaftations. They firft appeared at the end of 

 March, when the wind had been foutherly for fome time. In April, 

 their numbers were fo vaftly increafed, that in the heat of the day they 

 formed themfelves into large fwarms, which appeared like clouds, and 

 darkened the fun. In May they difappeared, retiring into the plains to 

 depofit their eggs. In June the young made their appearance, form- 

 ing many compact bodies of feveral hundred yards fquare ; which after- 

 wards marching forward, climbed trees, walls, and houfes, eating every 

 thing green in their way. The inhabitants, to flop their progrefs, laid 

 trenches all over their fields and gardens, filling them with water. Some 

 placed large quantities of heath, flubble, and combuftible matter, in 

 rows, and fet them on fire on the approach of the locufls : but the 

 trenches were quickly filled up, and the fires put our, by the vafl number 

 of fwarms that fucce^ded each other. A day or two after one of thefe 

 was in motion, others jufl hatched came gleaning after them, gnawing 

 off the young branches, and the very bark of the trees. Having lived 

 near a month in this manner, they arrived at their full growth, and threw 

 off their worm-like flate, by cafting their fkins. To prepare for this 

 change, they fixed their hinder feet to fome bufh or twig, or corner of a 

 flone ; when, by an undulating motion, their heads would firfl appear, 

 and foon after their bodies. The vs/hole transformation was perform.ed in 

 feven or eight minutes; after which, they were a little while languifhingj. 

 but when the fun and air had hardened their wings, and dried up their 

 moifiure, they returned to their former greedinefs, with additional 

 llrcngth and agility. After laying their eggs, they direded their courfe 

 northward, and probably perifhed in the fea. It is faid that the holes 

 thefe animals make, to depoiit tf'^Mr eggs, are four feet deep in the 

 ground j the eggs are about fourfcore in number, of the fize of caraway 

 comfits, and bundled up together in cluflers. 



It feems probable that, by means of a very dry feafon in the heart ^f 

 Africa, they are propagated in fuch numbers, that the vegetables are not 

 fufRcient to fuflain them j but, being obliged to find out other countries, 

 they traverfe fandy deferts, where finding nothing to allure them 

 from their height, they proceed forward, and thus come into Europe, 

 where they alight on the firft green pafturcs. 



Locufls are eaten in many kingdoms of the Eafl, and are caught in 



fmall nets j they parch them over the fire in an earthen pan; and when 



' • their 



