Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-07-03
I.oCUSTS

sects having already made their debut
: in some places. We cannot do less than
, devote a brief space TO their history
and habits. Whether the locusts Of
. the United States are Of different spe-
, cies from those which at various inter
vals have carried, terror and desola.
ton over large portions Of the Eastern
world, we canot positively say; though
it is certain that their visits have hi,h-
erto proved comparatively harmless
The history Of the immense multi
plieation Of loeusts in some cases, and
Of the damage done by them. If it were
not well authenticated, would be who'll
lly incrediblc.
This has been chiefly in oriental eoun-
tries where the insect has accordingly
aproverbiai reputation. - The lsnd,'
says the Prophet Joel, 4. is as the gar
den Of Eden before them. and behind
them desolate wilderness--yea no.
thing shall escape them" Again
= they shall run like mighty men they
shall climb the wall like men Of war.
and they shall walk every one in his
ways, and they shall not break their
ranks,neither shall one thrust another"
This graphic description might by
some be mistaken for q poetieal exsg
geration but let Us observe for mo-
ment how remarkably it is aceredited by
the account the well known DIR. Shaw
gives in his Travels. Of the rayages Of
these animals in Barbary, i'm the spring
OF "a, when they appeared in such
numbers rs absolutely. 10 darker The
air. After awhile they retired into
the plains to lay their eggs. These"
says the traveller. :. were no sooner
hatched, than each Of the broods col
leeted itself into n compact body Of
turiong or more square, and marching
afterwards directly towards the sea,
they let nothing escape them. They
kept their ranks ike men ftcar, climb
ing over. as they advanced, every cree
or wall that was in their way; nay, they
entered into our very house and bed
chambers, like SO many thieves" lie
then goes on 10 state that attempts
were made TO stop their progress by
fires OF stnbble and heath, but all to no
purpose, so numerous were the swarms.
In 1877, Southern Africa was over.
run 10 like manner. the traveller Bar.
row being there at the time and he
states that the whole surface Of the
ground. Tor an area Of nearly two thou
sand miles, was literally almost Gov
erd with them, while the water of a
wide river was scarcely visible on &C.
count OF the carcases Of those drown led
IN endeavoring to come at the reeds on
the banks. This was the third year Of
their continuance, and their increase
from year to year was estimated at
over million fold. The year before
they had made great rsvages, but were
hnally driven into the sea, which is
their common fate, by a TEN pestuous
north wind, and when they were after
wards cast upon the shore. Barrow
says they made bank three or four
feet high, extending fifty miles in
length, the faint Of which was plainly
perceptible at the distance of hundred
and fifty miles. II seems that during
the night these insects discontinued
their march, and clustered together in
large heaps; and at this time the far
mers sometimes destroyed vast multi.
tudes Of them by driving among them
mock Of several thousand sheep.
Paiias, IN his Travels in Russia, gives
a more minute description Of their
mode Of march. After getting started
10 the morning, he says, they resemble
swarm Of ants, all taking the same
course, at small distances, bat without
touching each other :. neither shall ons
thrust another. )" They uniformly
travel toward q certain region as fast as
hy can run, aud without leaning. nm.
less pursued. In their course thew adj.
vance from morning TO evening with.
out hating. frequently at the rate Of a
hundred fathoms and upwards day
When their progress is opposed by
bitches, they penetrate through them
their way can only be impeded by wa.
ter, - they are apparently terrified By
every kind Of moisture. Often, how.
ever, they endesvor TO gain the opposite
bank, with the aid Of overhangipRbouohs:
aud II the stalks Of plants or shrubs be
laid across the water, they pass in close
columns over these temporary bridges.
on which they even seem 10 Test, and
snIsy the refreshing GOODNESS. As
soon a. they acquire wings. they pro.
grsssNeIy disPerse. but still fly about
IN large Swarms."
I As long since ~ 1850, mention is
made Of a cloud Of loeusts in Russia,
wSh'eh entered the country in three dit.
lerent places and IL is stated in . 20.
lume OF the English Library Of Enter.
tanning knowledge, and elsewhere.
that they AitsrssrJs spread themselves
over Poland and Lithuania In such
numbers that the earth vas covered
ard The air darkened with them. The
trees bent With their weight in some
instances, and in Others they were
seen lying on the ground dead. 10 the
depth Of four feet.
In some regions Of The world they
Populate and migrate almost - regu.
IArly as certain species Of birds. Irby