INFINITE NUMBEE OF GEASSHOPPEES. 



297 



ceptibly the light of the sun. The whole horizon wore 

 an unearthly ashen hue from the light reflected by their 

 transparent wings. The air was filled as with flakes of 

 snow, and time after time clouds of these insects forming 

 a dense body casting a glimmering silvery light, flew 

 swiftly towards the north-north-east, at altitudes varying 

 from 500 to 1000 feet and upwards. 



Some idea of the height of the flight of these insects 

 may be gathered from the opportunity enjoyed by Mr. 

 E. James, who, when standing upon the summit of a peak 

 of the Eocky Mountains, 8500 feet above the level of 

 the Plains in Nebraska territory (14,500 above the sea), 

 saw them above his head as far as their size would render 

 them visible."* 



Lying on my back and looking upwards as near to the 

 sun as the light would permit, I saw the sky continually 

 changing colour from blue to silver white, ash grey and 

 lead colour, according to the numbers in the passing 

 clouds of insects. Opposite to the sun the prevailing hue 

 was a silver white, perceptibly flashing. On one occasion 

 the whole heavens towards the south-east and west 

 appeared to radiate a soft grey tinted light with a quiver- 

 ing motion, and the day being calm, the hum produced 

 by the vibration of so many millions of wings was quite 

 indescribable, and more resembled the noise popularly 

 termed " a ringing in one's ears," than any other sound. 

 The aspect of the heavens during the greatest flight we 

 observed was singularly striking. It produced a feeling 

 of uneasiness, amazement, and awe in our minds, as if 

 some terrible, unforeseen calamity were about to happen. 

 It recalled more vividly than words could express the 



* Explorations in Nebraska and Dakotah. Preliminary Report of Lieut. 

 Ci. K. Warren, Top. Eng. U. S. Army, 1858. 



