GRASSHOPPERS, OR LOCUSTS. 235 



taken for an eel. It has many of the habits of that animal, 

 living on worms and insects ; indeed, it is difficult to say 

 whether it should be classed with eels or batrachians. It is, 

 however, a true amphibian, respiring either in the water by 

 means of branchiae, or in the air by means of lungs. It 

 approaches, in the structure of its head, to the salamanders, 

 though much less so in its general form and proportions. 



The curious "axolotl," which we shall meet with in Mexico, 

 belongs to a closely allied genus. 



GRASSHOPPERS, OR LOCUSTS. 



When travelling across the prairies, we may, at times, when 

 gazing upwards at the sky, see what appears to be a vast 

 cloud approaching from the horizon. It is produced by 

 infinite swarms of locusts, or grasshoppers, as they are called 

 in North America.* About noon they appear to lessen per- 

 ceptibly the rays of the sun. The whole horizon wears an 

 unearthly ashy hue, from the light reflected by their trans- 

 parent wings. The air is filled as with flakes of snow. The 

 clouds of insects, forming a dense body, cast a glimmering, 

 silvery light from altitudes varying from 500 to 1000 feet. 

 The sky, as near the sun as its light will allow us to gaze, 

 appears continually changing colour, from blue to silvery white, 

 ashy gray, and lead colour, according to the numbers in the 

 passing clouds of insects. Opposite to the sun, the prevail- 

 ing hue is a silvery white, perceptibly flashing. Now, towards 

 the south, east, and west, it appears to radiate a soft, gray- 

 tinted light, with a quivering motion. Should the day be 

 calm, the hum produced by the vibration of so many millions 

 of wings is quite indescribable, and more resembles the noise 



v From Professor Hind's " Hod Eivcr Exploring Expedition." 



