The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-01
LOCUST YEAR.
The Hartford Courant contains the following
communication in relation to locusts:

The Hartford Courant contains the following
communication in relation to locusts:
awe frequently see it announced in the
newspapers, that this year has been locust year,
followed by the story Of their returning only
once in seventeen years; and as these annun-
Citations appear IN different parts Of the country
olteneT than once m seventeen years, It has
been stated that there are different tribes Of
qcusts and that although the appearance Of
loeusts IN different places may be otteaer, yer
each tribe appears but once in seventeen years.
What people in general think Of these stories
| do no. know; but should think they would
be read with doubt and indifference at least
81 wei remember three 'locnsts years. in
the years 1892, 1909, and ls26, and my father
told me that he remembered one in the year
1858, and another in 1875. There being seven
teen years between each Of these dates IS strong
evidence that they return once in seventeen
years, and accordingly the present year l543
may Be expected 10 Be locust gear. ] wish you
TO publish this at this time, that the enmologists
may have an opportunity 10 make observations;
and iflt should be a locust year, publish the re-
suit OF their observations. If prophet proph-
esy, and that which he prophesie,h cometi TO
pass then shallye know that he is a true proph-
e."
The Richmond Wing has an article on this
subject, a portion Of which we subiOin:
atm SEVENTEENTH YEAR LocUsr.-This
is the year, and this the month for the appear
anee Of the seventeon-year locust. IN a few
days the woods viii be thronged and be who
hears their accumulated hum for the first time,
will be astonished. Unless prepared for It, he
viii no. know how TO account for It. Formerly,
they appeared in such countless multItudes, as
TO latlen the swine 0fthe country, to whom they
are chosen food, as they are also to foxes, rae
coons squirrels, crows, and every forest bird.
Al their two last appearances, in 1896 and in
800, their numbers had much diminished, COM
pared with former periods owing doubtless, to
the clearing up and cultivation Of the face Of
the country.
"This remarkable insect is fully described
BY namralists. II closely resembles our au-
timnal fv OF the same name. lts wings have
the appearance Of w, and hence, appear
ing in-the midst Of Revolution, The supersti-
tious interpreted gihoso ven0us resemblances
Of " to imply war and want The Gentle
mans Magazine for 1871, contains an exact
cut Of The insect, and an accurate description Of
its habits. Il bores through the earth in the
chrysalis state, and, climbing upon the next tree
or fence, there deposites its shell and takes
wing.
aThe singular part Of its history is, its ap-
nnaranon only arase enoo in eovontoon ycars;
no fact is better established than this. Why
it should be so--whether the eggs require that
period Of incubation or whatever the cause, the
fact itself is certain. The writer Of this re-
members themi in 1926 and in 1909; his father
and grandfather remembered them in 1892 ard
in ITS; his grandfather in 1888. They ap-
peared at no other time in the intervals Of these
periods, except few stragglers in the suecee-
ding year, left BY chance or injury.
This theory has been doubted. This year
win test It's truth, and as assuredly verify It as
that the sun val set tonight"