The Locust. 567 
shape, while all the rudiments of the future Grasshopper 
are concealed under a thin outward skin, it retires under 
a thistle or a thorn-bush, most likely in order to be more 
secure ; and there, after a variety of laborious exertions, 
writhings, and palpitations, the temporary covering di- 
vides, and the insect jumps out of its exuuice. 
THE LOCUST. (Locusta migratoria.) 
The Bible, which was written in a country where the 
Locust made a distinguished figure among natural pro- 
ductions, has given us several very striking images of 
these animals' numbers and rapacity. It compares an 
army to a swarm of locusts : it describes them as rising 
out of the e/irth, where they are produced ; as pursuing 
a settled march to destroy the fruits of the earth ; and as 
the frequent instruments of Divine indignation. 
The native countries of the Locust are Central Asia 
and the North of Africa, but they migrate every year to 
Europe, where they destroy every green thing they meet 
with. Other species of Locusts are met with in various 
parts of the world, which, like the true migratory Lo- 
cust, pass from place to place ,jn vast flocks, causing 
immense damage wherever they take up their temporary 
abode. 
When the Locusts take the field they have a leader 
at their head, whose flight they observe, and to whose 
motions they pay a strict attention. They appear at a 
distance like a black cloud, which, as it approaches, 
gathers upon the horizon, and almost hides the light of 
the da} T . It often happens that the husbandman sees 
this imminent calamity pass away without doing him any 
