224 Some data for the Natural History of Orange Co. N. Y. 



immediately to the volition of the Almighty. That will in- 

 deed be a noble elevation of being to attain unto, when, as 

 clearly and as directly as the rays of light emanate from the 

 sun, every being and event shall seem to flow from the ener- 

 gies of Omnipotence, and the depths of ineffable love. But 

 though all mystery may thus far be removed, clouds and dark- 

 ness must still rest upon the existence, creative energy, and 

 attributes of the Great Cause uncaused, and the darkness 

 of " excessive bright," forever encompass his throne. 



Art. III. — Some data for the Natural History of Orange 

 County, N. F.; furnished by Jer. Van Rensselaer, M. D. 



New York, May, 1827. 

 Dear Sir, 



I send you a few observations made in Orange county in 

 this state, and taken from the MS. Medley Book of Jesse 

 Booth, an old gentleman who has long been an accurate ob- 

 server of nature. Some of these notices may prove interest- 

 ing to your readers, and thus will be valuable to the future 

 historian or naturalist, if recorded in your Journal. They 

 will serve as data in writing the natural history of Orange 

 county. Yours respectfully, 



Jer. Van Rensselaer. 



Prof. Silliman. 



On the habits of the locust cicada septemdecem. 



When I was a small boy, observes Mr. Booth, I saw the 

 locusts in their winged state — and when I saw them the sec- 

 ond time, which happened in 1 792, my curiosity was excited 

 to know in what year they were up when I was a boy. From 

 many facts that came to my knowledge, and from its being 

 well remembered by most of my neighbors, I ascertained that 

 the first time I saw them was in the year - 1775, 

 The second time I saw them up in the year 1 792, 

 The third time " " " 1809, 



The fourth time " " " i826. 



The first time that I saw the locusts in their winged state, 

 they were according to my recollection, much more numerous 

 than when they returned in 1792, and their numbers were 



