GKTLL\iS, 41 J 



Section II. 



1 HE locufts occupy the next fe6lion of this genus ; a 

 face of animals, unhappily for mankind, by far too well 

 known by their deftruftive eifecls on the productions of 

 the earth in many of the warmer regions of /^jia and 

 Africa. They are diftingullhed by a (impte tail, and fili- 

 form antennge *. The former of thefe members is defti- 

 tute of thofe fetaceous briftles which charaderife the 

 achetae, and of the tube which is peculiar to tlie tettigo- 

 niae already defcribed. The locufts conftitute a multi- 

 farious group of the mofl voracious and prolific infe(3:s 

 which are vifible to the naked eye. Some of them are of 

 a large fize, others fmall ; fome are green, others red or 

 yellow. Among us they receive Various denominations, 

 according to their fize and colour : When of one form, 

 they are called locuits ; thofe of another, grafhoppers^ 

 and a third fort are termed crickets f . 



Many of the locuits far excpf^d the grafhopper tribe ia 

 bulk, in rapidity of flight, and the powers of injuring 

 mankind, by fwarming upon the produdlions of the earth. 

 The latter animals are unable to fly any confiderable 

 length ; and the quantity ot vegetable food which a few 

 of them foorting among the grals can deflroy, is fcarcely 

 perceptible ; but when a fwarm of locufts, feveral miles 

 in length, and two or three yards deep, fettle upon a 

 field, the confequences are truly alarming. The annals 



of 



* Syftema Naturs. f Barbut's Gcnwa Iijfe'ft. p. 117. 



