TALITRUS LOCUSTA. 
21 
mentation has induced a heat so great that he could 
scarcely hear his hand. 
When the summer is hot, and no moisture exists be- 
neath the decomposing seaweed, they burrow into the 
sand two or three inches deep, until they find moisture 
enough to suit their comfort; whence they come out to 
feed upon any carrion left by the retiring tide. Offal, 
which would otherwise decompose and infect the air, is 
thus by their assistance often rapidly removed. They are 
not very dainty feeders. We have seen them enjoying 
their repast upon a common earth-worm ; drowned pup- 
pies and other mammals, afford a luxury to thousands ; 
and, when they can get nothing else, they are content to 
feed upon each other. 
Mr. Adam White, in his excellent little manual, tells 
us that millions of these creatures were seen by Paley 
springing in the air so lightly that, at a little distance off, 
they marked the circuit of the shore as a line of mist. 
The religious mind of the observer saw in this shadowy 
wall the action of expressed gratitude for existence. 
Upon the sands of Whitsand Bay, our friend Mr. Swain 
informs us that one day, at a picnic party, he saw “ not 
millions, but cartloads,” of this species lying piled to- 
gether along the margin of the sea. They hopped and 
leaped about, devouring each other as if for very wan- 
tonness. A handkerchief, which a lady let fall amongst 
them, was soon reduced to a piece of open work by the 
minute jaws of these small creatures. 
The numerical abundance of this species is kept within 
bounds by enemies more powerful than they can be to 
one another. The ring plover and other shore birds 
rapidly pick them up, and little beetles prey upon them, 
among wdiich the Cillenum laterale and Broscus cephalotes 
have been observed. 
