146 THE LOCUST. 



behind them. But if they be noxious when living, they are sti?] 

 more so when dead ; for, wherever they die, they infect the air 

 in such a manner that the smell is insupportable. Orosius in- 

 forms us, that, A. M. 3800, an incredible number of locusts 

 which had infested Africa, after having devoured every thing 

 that was green, flew off and were drowned in the sea, where 

 they caused such a stench as the putrefying carcasses of hundreds 

 of thousands of men could not have produced. In the year 

 1690, three vast clouds of locusts entered Russia in three differ- 

 ent places, and from thence spread themselves over Poland and 

 Lithuania, in such astonishing swarms, that in many parts of 

 these countries the air was darkened, and the earth covered with 

 their multitudes. In some places they were seen lying dead, 

 heaped one upon another, four feet deep upon the ground. The 

 trees bent beneath their weight ; and the damage which the 

 country sustained was beyond computation. 



In Barbary, their visits are frequent, and their numbers for- 

 midable. In the year 1724, Dr. Shaw was, in that country, a 

 witness of their devastations. Their first appearance was at the 

 latter end of March, when the wind had for some time blown 

 from the south. In the beginning of April their numbers were 

 so increased, that in the heat of the day they formed themselves 

 into large and thick clouds, which darkened the sun. In the 

 middle of May, they retired into the plain to deposit their eggs ; 

 and in June, the young brood began to make their appearance; 

 forming a number of compact bodies, of several hundred yards 

 square, which, marching forward, climbed the trees, and went 

 over the walls and houses, devouring every thing that was green. 

 The inhabitants, to stop their progress, dug trenches across their 

 fields, and filled them with water. They also placed large quan- 

 tities of heath, stubble, and other combustible matter, in rows, 

 which they set on fire on the approach of the locusts, — but all 

 proved in vain ; for the trenches were quickly filled up, and the 

 fires extinguished, by the numerous swarms that followed each 

 other in constant succession. 



In about a month, these young insects acquired their full 

 growth, and threw off their worm-like state, by casting their 

 skins. This transformation was accomplished in seven or eight 

 minutes, after which they appeared for a short time in a languid 

 state ; but as soon as the sun had hardened their wing?, they re- 

 sumed their former voracity with an addition of agility and 

 strength. But they were soon afterwards totally dispersed ; for, 

 having laid their eggs, they directed their course northward, and 

 probably were all drowned in the sea. 



These dosolating insects are seldom seen in England; al- 

 though in the year 1748, a tew of them made their appearance 



