254 INSECTS AT nO^IE. 



sea to a river. The miniature Locusts, which were unable to 

 fly, their wings not being as yet deveh)ped, were driven into 

 tlie ditch, whence they were unable to escape. In this way 

 the district was cleared of the Locusts ; but their numbers 

 were so vast that, on the third day after they were driven into 

 the ditch, their putrefying bodies infected the air, so that no 

 one could approach the trench. The reader will doubtless 

 have noticed how similar is this account to the many Scriptural 

 references to the Locust and its numbers. In Southern Africa, 

 the young Locusts are called Voet-gangers, or Foot-goers, and 

 are even more dreaded by the agriculturist than the mature 

 insects. 



There is certainly one redeeming point about the Locusts. 

 They eat the leaves, the flowers, the grass-blades, and the very 

 twigs ; but, then, they can be eaten themselves. I never had 

 the opportunity of tagtiug a Locust, but I know several tra- 

 vellers who have done so ; and they all agree in saying that the 

 insect, though dry, is rather palatable than otherwise, and 

 that, when the provisions run short, the Locusts form an 

 acceptable addition to the commissariat. I think, however, 

 that the dryness which is mentioned is caused by the rough- 

 and-ready style of cooking which is adopted by travellers 

 under such circumstances, and that if the insects were better 

 cooked they would be better flavoured. 



I am led to this belief by the Nineveh sculptures in the 

 British Museum. One of them represents a train of servants 

 carrying various meats to a great feast. Among them there 

 are several men, who are bearing long sticks, on which are tied 

 Locusts, just as cherries are tied on a stick or onions on a 

 string. It is evident that in this case the Locust is not looked 

 upon merely as a succedaneum for better food, but as being a 

 delicacy which was worthy of a place at a public feast, and 

 was borne aloft by bearded attendants. 



Although this is the species which is most common in these 

 Locust armies, several other species equally deserve the name 

 of INIigratory, and are equally destructive to the herbage. 



I cannot leave the Orthoptera without mentioning that the 

 arrangement of its members is very unsatisfactory, and, in 

 spite of the exertions of several able entomologists, much 



