46 ANIMALS OF NO IMPORTANCE. 



joined the main body and passed on. On the fifth day there 

 was scarcely a locust to be seen. 



It has often been asked how far a swarm of locusts will 

 travel. Certainly 1,000 miles is no uncommon distance, 

 but, of course, the flight will usually rest at intervals on 

 the journey. However, locusts are able to fly for con- 

 siderable distances without resting. Last time I came out 

 from England the ship passed through a swarm of locusts 

 in the middle of the Red Sea. 



Why locusts migrate is an unanswered problem. It is 

 true that they are usually born in dry sandy places where 

 there is little food to be obtained. We can, therefore, under- 

 stand them leaving such a place. But why do they migrate 

 so far ? Why do they pass over very fertile tracts ? Why, 

 for instance, did not the swarm of which I have spoken 

 settle down in the green fields and gardens in this district ? 

 Then, again, locusts often migrate from fertile to sandy 

 places. The reason of this may, however, be that dry soil 

 is essential to the hatching of their eggs, Locusts will eat 

 anything and everything, from green foliage to old boots, 

 muslin curtains, and, if there is nothing else to be obtained, 

 one another. Although all is grist that comes to their mill, 

 locusts, like human beings, have preferences. They only 

 eat muslin curtains faute de mieux. In this neighbourhood 

 they have shown a predilection for madua. They have also 

 done full justice to the tomatoes. The damage they have 

 wrought is very local. Not a single locust, except one I cap- 

 tured and brought in with me and then martyred on the altar 

 of science, has entered my compound, yet they overran 

 the parade ground 400 yards away. In other places near 

 by they settled in such numbers as to be ankle deep. It is 

 an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The locusts have 

 been a tremendous windfall for the crows and kites ; these 

 have had great sport in chasing and catching locusts on 

 the wing. The Gurkha soldiers and the Mahomedans also 

 eat locusts. The former pull off head, limbs and wings 

 and curry what remains; the latter cook locusts in oil. 



