



























HEMIPTERA. 
alfo found at the Cape of Good Hope, which is rather larger and deeper in colour than the Chinete 
variety. 
When this infeé is at reft, the wings are folded, and much of its beauty is concealed: but when thefe 
are expanded, its appearance is altogether magnificent. It has nothing of the fhining and metallic {plen- 
dour of the Coleopterz, for its colours are tranflucent, and affume their richeft hues when they pafs before 
the light. The elytra are purple, variegated with yellow: the wings of a glowing crimfon, fpotted with 
black. The abdomen is furrounded with alternate zones of black and yellow, and the legs are throughout 
of an elegant fcarlet, inferior only in brightnefs to the coral red of the head and thorax. Upon the 
whole, this fpecies is embellifhed with fuch a profufion of various and beautiful colours, that it may be 
confidered as a moft fplendid example of the Hemipterous order of infeéts. It is reprefented on the Iris 
Chinenjfis in a flying pofition. 
This is not f{uppofed to be a numerous fpecies in China; on the contrary, it is probably uncommon. 
Several others of the locuft are abundant in that country, and in feafons favourable to their increafe, do 
incredible mifchief*, Both the Gryllus tartaricus, and Gryllus migratorius, inhabit Tartary on the 
northern confines of China, from whence, at certain periods, they defcend like an impetuous torrent over. 
the neighbouring countries in queft of food, ftrip the earth of verdure, and fcarcely leave the veftige of 
vegetation behind them. The Gryllus migratorius, whofe myriads are faid to darken the face of heaven 
in their flights, fometimes dire&t their courfe weftward; crofs rivers, fea, and an immenfe extent of 
country, till they reach Europe; and though many are loft in thefe bold migrations, the furvivors are in 
fufficient numbers to commit vaft depredations. This fpecies has been known to vifit England!, but not 
in any abundance. In Little Tartary, and the European provinces of Turkey: in Italy, and in Ger- 
many™, they do great mifchief in thefe migrations. The Gryllus flavicornis and nafutus, are two other 
abundant fpecies in China, and no doubt there are many other common kinds in that country we are at 
prefent unacquainted with. The locuft is only detrimental when in immenfe numbers, for in China, as 
in other eaftern countries, they are confidered as an article of food, and regularly expofed for fale in the 
public markets ". 
k «© Famines fometimes happen in this part of the province. In fome feafons inundations, produced by torrents from the 
mountains, and as often the depredations of locufts are caufes of this difafter.” Vide Sir Ff. Staunton, Chap. on Tien-sing. 
1 The laft appearance of this fpecies in England was in 1748. We havea fpecimen of it from Smyrna, Germany, and 
China, and deem it too common and general an inhabitant to merit a figure as a Chinefe infect. 
™ Roefel fpeaks of this locuft infefting the provinces of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Tranfylvania, in fuch immenfe numbers, 
in the years 1747, 1748, and 1749, that an Imperial and Royal Hungarian edi@ was iffued, with printed inftructions for the beft 
means of exterminating them. Vide Der Heufchreéten-und Grillenfammlung, Gc. Fc. Vol. II. page 193. 
n Sir G. Staunton likewife fpeaks of ‘‘ a large fpecies of Gryllus” that is kept in cages for amufement in China, and was 
expofed for fale, with other infeéts, in the fhops of Hai-ten. Neither the fpecies of this, or the locufts noticed in the preceding 
chapter, are mentioned. 





































