172 
SPOET AND WAE. 
CHAP. XIX. 
Honey was most abundant in the country at this 
time ; and I have seen Job after a day’s hunting carry 
home leather bags full, weighing more than I could 
lift from the ground. Hence I believe that it was thus 
that John the Baptist 6 lived upon locusts and wild 
honey ’ in the wilderness. 
There is a bird called the locust-bird which follows 
the great flights of locusts from the interior; these 
birds remain always on the wing, and devour the insect 
without ceasing. They appear to be appointed by 
Nature to diminish or keep down the plague of 6 grass¬ 
hoppers,’ for they are never satisfied, but continue 
whirling amongst the locusts and cutting them to 
pieces with their bills ; nor can you tell what portion 
these ravenous birds feed upon. 
Biding or passing underneath a flight of the two a 
mass of debris falls upon you like rain. The birds 
are never seen to settle, but remain perpetually on the 
wing. 
These birds are of a dove-colour, rather larger than 
a swift, and have the same easy flight. They generally 
disappear with the locusts. 
There is also another large black-and-white bird, 
something like a stork or heron, with long red legs, 
which on one occasion followed the locusts down 
country. This bird is so tame that you may walk up to 
within a few yards of it before it will fly away. Strange 
