HALE-WINGED INSECTS. 365 



much less reparable than in their native lands, for there the power 

 of vegetation is so great that a few days repair the injuries caused 

 by them, but in Europe a whole year is required for that purpose. 

 The following account of these creatures is extracted from Mr. 

 Cumming's South Africa : 



" On the following day I had the pleasure of beholding the 

 first flight of locusts that I had seen since my arrival in the colony. 

 We were standing in the middle of a plain of unlimited length, 

 and about five miles across, when I observed them advancing. On 

 they came like a snow-storm, flying slow and steady, about a hun- 

 dred yards from the ground. I stood looking at them until the 

 air was darkened with their masses, while the plain on which we 

 stood became densely covered with them. Far as my eye could 

 reach, east, west, north, and south, they stretched in one unbroken 

 cloud 3 and more than an hour elapsed before their devastating 

 legions had swept by. . . . 



" Locusts afford fattening and wholesome food to man, birds, 

 and all sorts of beasts ; cows and horses, lions, jackals, hysenas, 

 antelopes, elephants, etc., devour them. We met a party of Bat- 

 lapis carrying heavy burdens of them on their backs. Our hungry 

 dogs made a fine feast on them.. The cold frosty night had ren- 

 dered them unable to take wing until the sun should restore their 

 powers. As it was difficult to obtain sufficient food for my dogs, 

 I and Isaac took a large blanket, which we spread under a bush, 

 whose branches were bent to the ground with the mass of locusts 

 which covered' it, and having shaken the branches, in an instant! 

 had more locusts than I could carry on my back ; these we roasted 

 for ourselves and our dogs." 



The Grasshopper From the vast numbers that are con- 

 stantly seen in our meadows during the summer months, this insect 

 is very generally known. Its color, shape, habits, and voice, are 

 very familiar to every observer of nature. In its color it resembles 

 , green leaves. Indeed, the green is vivid, glossy, and beautiful, 

 resembling the most lively vegetable green. There is a line of 

 brown which streaks the back, and two pale lines under the bcUy 

 and behind the legs. 

 31* 



