LOCUSTS AND GRASSHOPPERS, 215 



my friend, Mr. Kii-by, for the very kind notice he has taken of 

 my paper, and for the very indulgent way in which he treated any 

 possible error in it. 



I know there is a tribe of Orthoptei'a with long antennae and 

 another with short. One of the specimens with long antennte I 

 have here (Pliasfjonura viridissima), the largest grasshopper we have 

 in our country ; and here are Swiss specimens of the red and blue. 

 The red and bhie variety is one species called (Edipoda fasciata, 

 fi'om a black band round the hinder wings, and it has a thickening 

 of the knee joint. Some say they are of different tints in 

 different positions, the red in the vicinity of autumn leaves and 

 the blue occurring on blue clay or marl for self-protection. 



Mr. Martin Rouse. — How far can locusts fly without alighting ? 



Rev. F. A. Walker. — -Further than the length of this room. 

 You should ask Mr. Kirby that question. 



Mr. KiRBT. — I am afraid I cannot say positively. I do not 

 know that there is any positive record on the siibject. 



Mr. Martin Rouse. —You would make a distinction between 

 locusts and grasshoppers — that locusts fly much fui'ther. I did 

 not know whether their flight was caused voluntarily or whether 

 sometimes by a strong wind ; as it says in the Bible, " God caused 

 a strong east wind to blow and locusts were bi'ought by it." 



Rev. F. A. Walker. — They can certainly fly across a wide road 

 and as high as this room and up into trees. 



Mr. Martin Rouse. — We think of them coming in clouds from 

 a great distance and blocking out the light. We read of it. 



Rev. F. A. Walker. — Their ordinary flight, when not frightened, 

 is about the height of 15 feet for about 20 or 40 yards, a,nd then 

 they come down. I daresay if the wind set their way, or they 

 were frightened, they could go much quicker and further. That 

 is the flight I have seen them take. About the height of this 

 room for 20 to 40 yards when they start from under your feet. 



The Chairman. — I am sure we offer our cordial thanks to Dr. 

 Walker for his paper. [Applause.] 



The Meeting then adjourned. 



