Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-06
From the Columbian Star.
JOCUSTS,


;acen, wood 1t might, al first nave been ms
taken for the distant cawing Of a numerous col
lection of crows, waglng war, as thel' 'us'o''
is. upon some solitary hawk or owl.
The sound continuing for long time unln-
terruDted, and of a uniform, or, rather shgn'iy
increasing volume, my curiosity was eNcl'eo 10
ascertain the cause of it. | repaired to the
wood and on entering found myself surround
cd bv an immense number Of locusts They
seemed ela,ed with their new existence, and
while feeding luxuriousy upon the tender To-
liape. poured out an incessant song OF re\elrV
The insect is Of brown color and about an
inch and Quarter, or All inch and three-elgh'hs
in length 1t comes out OF the ground IN
state intermediate between the worm and the
flv, having legs but not wings. 1t ascendS the
first trunk, which happens in It's way, and las
tens upon leaf cr small twig a rupture OF
the thin, crustaceous lntegument soon ensues'
the insect crawls cut, dries his wings, breathcs
for short time, the pure air, and is then ia..'
grown, vigorous, and devouring locust lhey
ascend the trees in such numbers, that, In some
instances ten or twelve tenantless she Is remain
upon Dough within foot Of each other
When the seeds of so many living beings
were deposited, how long they have lam dor
mant, and what particular influence has no"
caused them to vivify, it is, perhaps, igaPossl-
bic to determine. The subject, however, Is
open 70 the investigation Of the naturalist.
1t is generally believed that their appear
ance among us is periodical, either once IN Sc
ven years, or once in ten years, or as others
maintain, once IN fifteen years. 1t is not my
intention, Mr. Editor, to occupy either your
time or the time of your readers by any re-
marks Of mine upon the peculiar economy OF
the locust. will Only request You TO insert in
your valuable paper, the following extract from
Professor PaXton's Illustrations Of Scripture,
which am persuaded will not be unacceptable
to the patrons Of the Star. Yours sc,
d. c. Nay %. l..
"The locust is one Of the most terrible scour-
ges with which the incensed maIesty>of heaven
chastises guilty world. Not fewer than ten
different names are given to this creature in
the sacred volume, every one OF which, after
the manner of Hebrew nouns, marks some dis
tinctivc char acter or peculiar effect
"ln some regions of the east, the whole earth
is al times covered with locusts for the space
of several leagues, often TO the depth Of four
inches. The noise they make in brow sing on
distance, and resembles that oil an army loraS-
ing IN seere' ~ i''" ""o ai,ro,s bred nv two
observed '""' io-|''' 90. ,,,lv rn,,a
mild winters, and that they constantly come
from the deserts Of Arabia. When they breed,
which IS in the month Of October, they make
hole IN the GROUND WIN '"e" '"''o' "''u "a'
ING laid three hundred eggs in ii, and covered
them with their 'ee', eAPi,'' 'o' " N,;,to,
live ABOVE SN months "nu " .t''' ..,n
rains nor iros'' "o"e Vs., lo"S III s,,,;no
destroy t"eir '6as' ''.s 49, 49,, To-
ana ha'cheo oy ''' i.". y. o VA ,illio
iocus's ISSUE HUN '"e s"'''' "'0''
oil April :. ,:.o.,
hele'er 'ler i'''u,' ., "o'. o"" .ka,oh
toeir mar II, ,nI u"'e VI ',;s aIn,Es,
II tese'l'",s" I;, ,, RIA ,roes and
r. - r. Ina,o. and rndnced r.
la"'', ~, te,,sns ",,i .,s,,, ,hc ,rv
''''i' ""%.N Ooo "',a =. ;"e,aa, go t,o
image o' winter u s"l0eei !" an i"SL""'' ~ 80.
rlch scenery Vi 'P'''S' 4" " IL "ou' WV
eat up ever! eI'e" inns, anu Io''a" Wv -.
seraoie 'nneol'a"'' VI s"e Neoo'a'e" ~ 'o'' q.
lneNl'a"'e i"'ii,e "n! ga: %'e nv. 'I 1ia
|ie"' " :s pai' Wv. II,L" ,I,,,. Gs. ~,
UuCu'e i"SeoS P'oo0Ie W, n'1' ~
pear on the iioh'ierS o' 'ne '"'''. ."'
innaoi.ah's strive 10 rePu'sc '''eIh y! 'a''',''
large CLOUDS OF smoke, OUT frequently o'el' "e'' 10
ana wet straw iaii them; they 'hsn Gig 'tehcheS
where ihnameTaoIe mui'ludeS OF 'htSe rern'i''
are our'ee. Du' "'e TWO most Po"eiIui oss'
'royers OIL ''e'e lnSltIs, 10 '"e SCUM OF so"'n'
easierly "lhuS, a"H '"e oitu E""eu me oaui'iai