456 



PARADISE GRAKIE. 



and is particularly fond of locusts and grasshoppers^ 

 On this head the Count de Buffon relates a curious 

 anecdote. The island of Bourbon, where these 

 birds were unknown, was overrun with locusts, 

 which had unfortunately been introduced from 

 Madagascar; their eggs having been imported in 

 the soil with some plants which were brought 

 from that island. In consequence of this, Monsr. 

 Desforges Boucher, Governor General of the isle 

 of Bourbon, and Monsr. de Poivre, the Intendant, 

 perceiving the desolation which was taking place, 

 deliberated seriously on the means of extirpating 

 the noxious insects; and for that purpose caused 

 to be introduced into the island several pair of the 

 Paradise Grakle from India. This plan promised 

 to succeed; but unfortunately some of the colo- 

 nists, observing the birds eagerly thrusting their 

 bills into the earth of the new-sown fields, imagined 

 that they were in quest of the grain, and reported 

 that the birds, instead of proving beneficial, would, 

 on the contrary, be highly detrimental to the 

 country. The cau^e was considered in form. On 

 the part of the birds it was argued, that they raked 

 in the new- ploughed grounds not for the sake of 

 the grain, but the insects ; and were therefore 

 beneficial. They were however proscribed by the 

 council ; and in the space of two hours after the 

 sentence was pronounced against them, not a 

 Grakle was to be found in the island. This prompt 

 execution was however followed by a speedy re- 

 pentance: the locusts gained the ascendency, and 

 the people, who only view the present, regret- 



