THE LEAF INSECT. 



625 



assiduously do they ply their busy jaws that the peculiar sound produced 

 by the champing of the leaves, twigs, and grass-blades can be heard at a 

 considerable distance. When they take to flight the rushing of their wings 

 is like the roaring of the sea, and as their armies pass through the air 

 the sky is darkened as if by black thunder-clouds. 



The warm sunbeams appear to be absolutely necessary for the flight 

 of Locusts, for no sooner does the sun set than they alight and furl their 

 wings. Woe to the ill-fated spot where they settle! for they consume 

 everything that their jaws can sever, and are not content with eating 

 the green herbage, but devour even linen, blankets, or tobacco. At 

 the approach of the aerial hosts every one is in fear except the Bush- 

 man, who welcomes the Locust with all his heart ; for he has no crops 

 to lose, no clothing to be destroyed, and only sees in the swarming in- 

 sects his greatest luxury — namely, an abundant supply of food without 

 any trouble in obtaining it. In the path of the Locusts he kindles 



The Migratory Locust {Locusta migrator ia). 



large fires, and the insects, being stifled with the smoke and having 

 their wings scorched by the flames, fall in thousands, and are gathered 

 into heaps, roasted, and eaten. Those that remain after the Bushman 

 has eaten his fill are then ground between two stones into a kind of 

 meal, which is dried in the sun, and can be kept for a long time with- 

 out becoming putrid. This substance does not seem very palatable to 

 Europeans, but its distastefulness is probably owing to the careless way 

 in which the insects are scorched over the fire, as Dr. Livingstone 

 speaks highly of the Locust as an article of food, thinking it superior 

 to shrimps. Honey is always eaten together with the Locusts whenever 

 that sweet condiment can be obtained, as it serves to render the insects 

 more digestible. Our common English grasshoppers belong to the 

 true Locusts. 



The Leaf Insect is one of the singular species which have such a 

 wonderful resemblance to fallen leaves. The elytra are peculiarly 

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