GRYLLUS. 419 



?tnd filled them with water ; in vain thej collefted large 

 rows of heath, ftubble, and other combuftible matter to 

 fet them on fire on the approach of the locuits. The 

 trenches were foon filled, and the fires exiinguidied by 

 the immenfe fwarnns that fucceeded each other. 



The locvifts which are thus a6tive in their larva flate, 

 remain only about a month in that form ; after bavins' 

 completed their growth, they cafl that ficin which gave 

 them their vermiculr'ir fiiape ; and, in order to prepare 

 themfelves for this transformation, they attach their hind 

 legs to fome twig, where, after fom? laborious efforts, 

 and feveral undulating motions, they at lad buril the ikin : 

 at firft, the head only appears, but foon after the reft of 

 the body is difengaged, the whole operation continuing 

 only for feven or eight minutes. After calling their cq- 

 vering they remam for a little in a languilhing flat;.-, tiil 

 the air hardens their wings, and the heat of tiie fun a- 

 gain invigorates them, when they refume their former 

 voracious habits, with an increafe both of llrength and a,- 

 gility *. 



in fome parts of the world the inhabitants convert 

 what fo generally is confidered as a plague, to an adv^an • 

 ■tage, by making the locufls an article of food. It is for 

 this purpofe, tiiat in many parts of the ealt they are 

 caught in fmall nets, which are conllrufted for enrang- 

 ling them. When a fufficient quantity is thus procured, 

 they are roafi;ed over the fire in an earthen pan till tha 

 wings and legs drop off: when thus prepared they are 

 reckoned tolerable food, and are faid to talte like cray- 

 fifti +. 



In '^onqiiin nets are ufed In drngging a fpecies of them 

 out of the rivers, into which they frequently fall from their 



3 G 2 unwieldine'rs 



^ Dr. Shaw's travels. f Danipier's voyajss. 



