82 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



field or orchard, which has the power of turning away the 

 locusts. 



In our New Testament we read of locusts forming 

 human food. The Arabs still eat and are very fond of 

 them. One was asked his opinion of the insect as an 

 article of food. Expressing his admiration of locusts, he 

 is reported as saying, "I only wish I had a basketful of 

 them, wouldn't I scrunch them ! " English travellers who 

 have tasted locusts in ignorance, have owned the flavour 

 is agreeable. 



Locusts are not only mentioned literally in the New 

 Testament, but metaphorically in the -Old, and it is to 

 the latter the student of natural history must go for a 

 description of these destructive creatures ; and especially 

 do we meet with them in the prophecy of Joel. The 

 darkness and gloominess mentioned by the naturalist is 

 referred to by the prophet ; * the fierceness and speed of 

 the creatures, their noise and regularity of march, the 

 obscuration of the light of day by their number and 

 flight, and the consternation and distress they bring 

 wherever they settle ; all is clearly and exactly described, 

 although used as a metaphor. 



Let any reader, who is tempted to listen to the voice 

 of one opposed to the inspiration of Holy Writ, compare 

 the evidence of an unbeliever with the words of a prophet, 

 and then say what he thinks of that wonderful book we 

 call the Bible. And first having carefully read the chapter 

 in Joel already referred to, then let him read Yolney's 

 " Travels through Egypt and Syria." He writes : " Syria 

 as well as Egypt, and almost all the south of Asia, is 

 subject to those clouds of locusts so often mentioned by 

 travellers. The quantity of these insects is incredible to 

 all who have not witnessed their astonishing numbers. 



* Chap. ii. 



