Ohjervations &c. 2^7 



tiring into the Mettijiah, and other adjacent Plains to depofit 

 their Eggs Accordingly, in the Month following, their young 

 Broods began gradually to make their Appearances; and it 

 was furprizing to obferve, that no fooner were any of them 

 hatched, than they immediately colle6led themfelvcs together, 

 each of them forming a compact Body of feveral luindredr/^.,v n^««»- 

 Yards in Square: which marching afterwards direftly forward,. w^^. 

 climbed over Trees, Walls and Houfes, eat up every Plant in their 

 way, and let nothing efcape them. The Inhabitants, to ftop 

 their Progrefs, made Trenches all over their Fields and Gardens 

 and filled them with Water ; or elfe placing in a Row great Qiian- 

 tities of Heath, Stubble, and fuch like combuftible Matter, they 

 fet them on Fire upon the Approach of the Locufts. But 

 all this was to no Purpofe ; for the Trenches were quickly 

 filled up , and the Fires put out by infinite Swarms fucceed- 

 ing one another; whilft the Front feemed regardlefs of Danger, 

 and the Rear prelfed on fo clofe, that a Retreat was impolTi- 

 ble. A Day or two after one of thefe Bodies was in Motion, 

 others were already hatched to glean after them ; gnawing off 

 the young Branches and the very Bark of fuch Trees, as had 

 efcaped before with the Lofs only of their Fruit and Foliage. 

 So juftly hath the infpired Writer ' compared them to a great 

 Army ; and obferved , that the Land is as the Garden of 

 Eden before them, a7id hehind them a de folate Wildernejs. 



Having in this Manner lived near a Month upon the Ruin ^-^^ cafmgof 

 and Deftrudlion of every Thing that was green or juicy, they^ " 

 arrived at their full Growth, and threw off their Worm-like 

 State, by calling their Skins. To prepare themfelves for the 

 Change, they clung by their hinder Feet to fome Bufli, Twig, 

 or Corner of a Stone ; when immediately, by an undulating 

 Motion ufed upon the Occafion, their Heads would firft ap- 

 pear, and foon aftei^ the reft of their Bodies. The whole 

 Transformation was performed in feven or eight Minutes ; 

 after which they lay for a fmall Time in a languifliing Condi- 

 tion ; but as foon as the Sun and Air had hardened their Wings 

 and dryed up the Moilture that remained upon them after 

 the cafling of their Sloughs , they returned again to their 

 former Voracity, with an Addition both of Strength and Agi- 



1 Viz.. In the firft Part of the fecond Chapter of the Prophet Joel. 



Ttt lity. 



