102 LECTURE IX. 



by the Locust tribe. The genus Gryllus, compre- 

 hending all the kinds of Locusts and Grasshoppers, 

 is wonderfully numerous, and is distinguished by 

 a large head, with strong jaws; slender horns, a 

 lengthened body; and the hind-legs formed for 

 leaping. Among the species most remarkable for 

 their ravages is the Gryllus migratorius or migra- 

 tory Locust, which of all the insects capable of 

 injuring mankind, seems to possess the most 

 dreadful powers of destruction. Legions of these 

 animals are from time to time observed in various 

 parts of the world, but more particularly in the 

 Eastern regions, where the havoc they sometimes 

 commit is almost incredible. The sun is often 

 darkened by their numbers while the swarm is in 

 the act of migration ; so that at mid-day people 

 can hardly distinguish each other. They settle 

 on the richest parts of the country, and in a few 

 hours devour all the corn and other vegetables, 

 and change the most fertile province into the ap- 

 pearance of a barren desert. In the year 1748, 

 some straggling flights, which had committed con- 

 siderable havoc in some parts of Germany and 

 France, were observed to make their appearance 

 in England, and were even seen about and in the 





