146 



GRASSHOPPERS. LOCUSTS. 



wings, or have only small wing-covers. Of their voracity a 

 curious instance is mentioned by Mr. Westwood; who states 

 that on one occasion he placed a specimen of the large green 

 species in a box, together with one of its legs which it had 

 accidentally jerked off; and on opening the box the next morn- 

 ing, half the leg was devoured. Amongst the foreign species of 

 this group, there are some which bear a most singular resem- 

 blance to the fresh leaves of various plants. 



670. The last group of this Order consists of the various 

 tribes of migratory Locusts, together with several which are 

 ordinarily ranked as 

 Grasshoppers, but which 

 agree with the Locusts 

 in the shortness of their 

 antennae, and the robust- 

 ness of their bodies and 

 limbs (Fig. 369). These 

 leap with much greater 

 energy than the preced- 

 ing, and have a much 

 longer-sustained flight. 

 The powers of devasta- 

 tion possessed by the 

 Locusts are almost in- 

 conceivable ; for they are 

 produced in vast num- 

 bers, and live in societies, 

 so as speedily to destroy the vegetation of the spot on which 

 they have settled. Thence they take their flight in vast multi- 

 tudes to adjoining districts ; and so great is the number of which 

 these swarms consist, that it is not speaking figuratively to say 

 that the sky is darkened by their passage. Their ravages 

 usually continue until they are checked for want of a further 

 supply of food ; for as the instinct of the Locusts leads them to 

 continue their flight in the same direction, they are at last 

 stopped either by the desert or the sea ; and sometimes a storm, 

 carrying them out of their course, or hurrying them on in it, 



FIG. 369. PNEUMORA. 



