47B 
NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA, 
IV.' — Insects. 
Africa affords great variety and abundance of 
insects, which are not less remarkable for the 
beauty of their colours, and the brilliancy of their 
lustre, than for the remarkable forms, and adap- 
tations of their various parts. Some species we 
find very widely distributed, and occupying many 
different situations ; others are much more limi- 
ted, both in their geographical and physical dis- 
tribution. In the vegetable kingdom, we observe 
the same species under different latitudes, exhi- 
biting different intensities, and even tints of co- 
lour. The same is the case with insects. Even 
the same kind of colour changes according to the 
situation, becoming deeper and paler, and more 
or less metallic or silky. But the habits, man- 
ners, and uses of this wonderful class of animals 
are those that most powerfully arrest the attention 
of the general observer. We shall now therefore 
notice a few species in these respects, it not being 
our intention to enter particularly into the history 
of African insects. 
The migratory locust (^gryllus migrator ius, Lin,) 
IS the most formidable insect met with in Africa. 
Its incalculable numbers, and extraordinary vora^ 
city, have, in all ages, caused it to be considered 
as one of the most calamitous visitants of the dis- 
tricts where it appears. Whole provinces are ra- 
vaged and destroyed by them 5 wherever their 
