236 GRASSHOPPERS, OR LOCUSTS. 



popularly termed " a ringing in one's ears," than any other 

 sound. The aspect of the heavens during the period that the 

 greatest flight is passing by is singularly striking. It pro- 

 duces a feeling of uneasiness, amazement, and awe, as if some 

 terrible unforeseen calamity were about to happen. 



When the grasshoppers are resting from their long journeys, 

 or in the morning when feeding on the grass and leaves, they 

 rise in clouds as we march through the prairie; and when the 

 wind blows, they become very troublesome, flying with force 

 against our faces, and into the nostrils and eyes of the horses, 

 filling every crevice in the carts. Fortunately, comparatively 

 few take flight on a windy day, otherwise it would be im- 

 possible to make headway against such an infinite host in 

 rapid motion before the wind, although composed individually 

 of such insignificant members. The portions of the prairie 

 visited by the grasshoppers wear a curious appearance. The 

 gTass may be seen cut uniformly to one inch from the ground. 

 The whole surface is covered with the small, round, green 

 exuviae of these destructive invaders. They frequently fly at 

 an enormous heio-ht above the earth. An enofineer eno-ao^ed in 

 the Nebraska survey, mentions that, when standing on the 

 summit of a peak of the Rocky Mountains, 8500 feet above 

 the level of the plains in Nebraska — being 14,500 feet above 

 that of the sea — he saw them above his head as far as their 

 size rendered them visible. 



Grasshoppers are excellent prognosticators of a coming 

 storm. They may be seen at times descending perpendicu- 

 larly from a great height, like hail — a sign of approaching 

 rain. At this time the air, as far as the eye can penetrate, 

 appears filled with them. Early in the morning they com- 

 mence their flight, and continue it till late in the afternoon, 



