THE LOCUST. 177 



Dr. Shaw's account of tlie locusts in Barbary. 



May they began to disappear,, retiring into the 

 plains to deposit their eggs. In June the young 

 brood came forth, forming many compact bo- 

 dies of several hundred yards square ; which, 

 afterwards marching forward, climbed the trees, 

 walls, and houses, devouring every vegetable 

 that was in their way. The inhabitants, to stop 

 their progress, formed trenches all over their 

 fields, and gardens, which they filled with water. 

 Some placed large quantities of heath, stubble, 

 and other combustible matter in rows, and set 

 them on fire on the approach of the locusts. 

 This, however, was all to no purpose, for the 

 trenches were quickly filled up, and the fires put 

 out by the immense swarms that succeeded each 

 other. A day or two after one of these was in 

 motion, others that were just hatched came to 

 glean after them, gnawing off the young branch- 

 es, and the very bark of the trees. Having lived 

 near a month in this manner, they arrived at 

 their full growth, and threw off their larva state 

 by casting their skins. To prepare themselves 

 for this change they fixed their hinder parts to 

 some bush or twig, or corner of a stone; when 

 immediately, by an undulating motion, their 

 heads would first appear, and soon after the rest 

 of their bodies. The whole transformation was 

 performed in seven or eight minutes time; after 

 which they remained for a little while in a weak 

 state; but as soon as the sun and air had har- 

 dened their wings, arid dried up the moisture that 



VOL. VI. NO. 42. Z 



