286 THE MIGRATORY LOCUST. 



others that were just hatched came to glean aftef 

 them, gnawing off the young branches, and the very 

 bark of the trees. Having lived near a month in this 

 manner, they arrived at their full growth, and threw 

 off their larva state by casting their skins. To pre- 

 pare themselves for this change they fixed their 

 hinder parts to some bush or twig, or corner of a 

 stone ; when immediately, by an undulating mo- 

 tion, their heads would first appear, and soon after 

 the rest of their bodies. The whole transformation 

 was performed in seven or eight minutes time j after 

 which they remained for a little while in a weak 

 state ; but as soon as the sun and air had hardened 

 their wings, and dried up the moisture that remained 

 after casting their sloughs, they returned to their 

 former greediness, with an addition both of strength 

 and agility. But they did not long continue in this 

 state before they were entirely dispersed. After 

 laying their eggs, they directed their course north- 

 ward, and probably perished in the sea*. 



Of the innumerable multitudes that infested the 

 interior of Southern Africa, in the year 1797, 

 scarcely any adequate conception can be formed, 

 Mr. Barrow says that in the part of the country 

 where he then was, for an area of nearly 20O0 square 

 miles, the whole surface of the ground might lite- 

 rally be said to be covered with them. The water 

 of a very wide river was scarcely visible on account 

 of the dead carcases that floated on the surface, 

 drowned in the attempt to come at the reeds that 



I . ■ - I, „ 1 - 1 . jii, .LI *~ ' 



* Shaw's Travels, 257. 



