the cricket. 
29.5 
In some parts of the world, the inhabitants turn what seems 
a plague to their own advantage. Locusts are eaten by the 
natives in many kingdoms of the East : and are caught in 
small nets provided for that purpose. They parch them over 
the lire in an earthen pail ; and when their wings and le<r 8 
are fallen ofT, they turn reddish, of the colour of boiled 
shrimps. Dampier has eaten them thus prepared, and thinks 
them a tolerable dish. The natives of Barbary also eat them 
tried with salt ; and they are said to taste like cray-fish. 
Alieie is a locust in ’lonquin, about the thickness of the 
top of a man’s finger, and as long as the first joint. It breeds 
in the earth, in low grounds , tnd in the months of January 
and February, which is the season for taking them, they issue 
from the earth in vast swarms A t first tlicv can hardly fly 
so that they often fall into the riversin great numbers : how! 
ever, the natives in these months watch the rivers, and take 
them up in multitudes in small nets. They either eat them 
ti esh, boiled on the coals, or pickle them for keeping. They 
are considered as a great delicacy in that part of tire world, 
as well by the rich as the poor. In the countries where they 
are eaten, they are regularly brought to market, and sold as 
larks or quails in Europe. They must have been a common 
food with the Jews, as Moses, in the book of Leviticus 
permits them to eat four different kinds of this animal, which 
he lakes care to specify. This dish, however, has not yet 
made its way into the kitchens of the luxurious in Europe ; 
and though we may admire the delicacies of the East we 
are as yet happily deprived of the power of imitation. 
1 a |) animals, however, of this noxious tribe, the Great 
' est Indian Locust , individually considered, is the most 
Oimidable. . It is about the thickness of a goose-quill, and 
. le body divided into nine or ten joints, in the whole about 
S| x or seven inches long. It has two small eyes, standing 
nut of the head like those of crabs, and two feelers like long 
mir. The whole body is studded with small excrescences, 
'y'lich are not much bigger than the points of pins. The 
s hape is roundish, and the body diminishes in circumference 
the tail, which is forked into two horns. Between these 
mere is a sort of sheath, containing a small dangerous sting! 
*f any person happens to touch this insect, lie is sure to be 
stung ; and is immediately taken with a shivering and trem- 
. n g all over the body ; which, however, may soon be put 
‘ l s'op to, by rubbing the place that was affected with a 
'hie palm oil. 
, F' onuhe locust we descend to the cricket, which is a very 
noffensive animal. Though there is a species of this insect 
