4lf 
GRYIxts, 
of many countries in the liall have recorded their deVa-** 
fiations, which at different periods have threatened the 
extinction of the human race. Happily for the inhabit- 
ants of Europe, the coldilcfs of their climate, and the hu- 
midity of their foil, are unfavourable to their production. 
In fornc ^f the fouthern kingdoms, their vifitations, 
though far lets- frequent than formerly, are Hill an objeih 
of terror : In general, however, their incurfions arc fatal 
to thefe animals ; they vifill us and perilli. 
The facred feriptures, which were written in a country 
where the fwarms of loculls made a diitingmlried feature 
in the picture of nature, have given us many finking re- 
prefentations of the numbers and rapacity of thefe in- 
fers : They compare, according to the manner of the 
oriental languages, aa army of which the numbers are 
beyond computation, to a fwarm of loculls : They de- 
feribe them as riling out of the earth, where they were 
produced ; as purfuing a fettled march, for the purpofe 
of detlroying its fruits ; and as co-operating with the di- 
vine indignation in punifliing the fins of men. 
When the loculls take the Geld, they have, as' it is 
faid, a leader at their head, whofe flight they obferve, and 
pay a Uriel attention to all his motions. They appear 
at a diftance as a black cloud, which, as it approaches, 
gathers upon the horizon, and almofl hides the light of 
day. It often happens that the hufbandman fees this im- 
minent calamity pafs away without doing him any mif- 
chief, and the whole fwarm to proceed onward, to fettle 
upon the labours of fome lefs fortunate people : But 
wretched is the diluifl upon which they alight. They 
ravage the meadow and the pa (lure ground, ftrip the 
trees of their leaves, and the gardens of every vegetable. 
The 
