THE MIGRATORY LOCUST. 285 



thence they spread themselves over Poland, and 

 Lithuania, in such astonishing multitudes that the 

 air was darkened, and the earth covered with their 

 numbers. In some places, they were seen lying 

 dead, heaped upon each other to the depth of four 

 feet ; in others they covered the surface of the 

 ground like a black cloth : the trees bent with their 

 weight ; and the damage that the country sustained 

 exceeded computation. 



In Barbary their numbers are often formidable ; 

 and Dr. Shaw was a witness of their devastations 

 there in 1724. Their first appearance was in the 

 latter end of March, when the wind had been 

 southerly for some time. In the beginning of April 

 their numbers were so increased that, in the heat of 

 the day, large swarms appeared like clouds, and 

 darkened the sun. In the middle of May they be- 

 gan to disappear, retiring into the plains to deposit 

 their eggs. In June the young brood came forth, 

 forming many compact bodies of several hundred 

 yards square ; which, afterwards marching forward, 

 climbed the trees, walls, and houses, devouring every 

 vegetable that was in their way. The inhabitants, 

 to stop their progress, formed trenches all over their 

 fields and gardens, which they filled with water. 

 Some placed large quantities of heath, stubble, and 

 other combustible matter in rows, and set them on 

 fire on the approach of the Locusts. This, how- 

 ever, was all to no purpose, for the trenches were 

 quickly filled up, and the fires put out by the im- 

 mense swarms that succeeded each other. 



A day or two after one of these was in motion. 



x 



