INSECTS. 476 
noxious while living, they are still more so when dead ; 
for wherever they fall they infect the air in such a man- 
ner that the smell is insupportable. 
In the year 1690 a cloud of Locusts was seen to enter 
Russia in three different places; and thence to spread 
themselves over Poland and Lithuania, in such astonish- 
ing multitudes, that the air was darkened, and the earth 
covered with their numbers. In some places they were 
seen lying dead, heaped upon each other to the depth of 
four feet ; in others they covered the surface like a black 
cloth : the trees bent beneath their weight, and the da- 
mage which the country sustained exceeded computation. 
In Barbary their numbers are formidable, and their visits 
frequent. In the year 1724, Dr. Shaw was a witness of 
their devastations in that country. Their first appear- 
ance was about the latter end of March, when the 
wind had been southerly for some time. In the begin- 
ning of April their numbers were so much increased, that 
in the heat of the day they formed themselves into large 
swarms, which appeared like clouds, and darkened the 
sun. In the middle of May they began to disappear, re- 
tiring into the plains to deposit their eggs. In the next 
month, being June, the young brood began to make their 
appearance, forming many compact bodies of several hun- 
dred yards square ; which afterwards marching forward, 
climbed the trees, walls, and houses, eating everything 
that was green in their way. 
To their general's voice they soon obey'd 
Innumerable. As when the potent rod 
Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 
Waved round the coast, upcall'd a pitchy cloud 
Of Locusts, warping on the eastern wind, 
That o'er the realms of impious Pharaoh hung 
Like night, and darkened all the land of Nile ; 
So numberless were those bad angels seen, 
Hovering on wings, under the cope of Hell, 
'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires. MILTON. 
