The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-01
LOCUST YEAR.

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 oithe country
oitener than once IN seventeen years, it has
been stated that there are different tribes Of
J locusts ; and that although the appearance of
| Iecusts in different places may be ofteaer, yet
each tribe appears but once in seventeen years.
What people in general think of these stories
| do not know; but should think they would
| be read with doubt and indiffer ence at least.
81 well remember three 'locusts years. in
the years 1892, 1909, and 1896, and my father
told me that he remembered one in the year
1853, 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 IS43
may be expected 10 be locust gear. / wish you
to publish this at this time, that the enmoogIsts
may have an opportunity 70 make observations;
and if 1t should be locust year, publish the re-
suit OF their observations. IF a prophet proph-
esy, and that which he prophesieth cometh to
pass, then shallye know that he is true proph-
et''
The Richmond Wing has an article on this
subject, portion of which we subjon:
is the year, and this the month for the appear
ance of the seventeen-year locust. In few
days the woods will be thronged, and be who
hears their accumulated hum for the first time,
will be astonished. Unless prepared for it, he
will not know how to account for it.. Formerly,
they appeared in such countless multitudes, as
TO fatten the swine of the country, to whom they
are chosen food, as they are also to foxes, rae
coons, squirrels, crows, and every forest bird.
A fbair fxxrO last in 1903 md in
1909, 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 naturalists 1t closely resembles our au-
tumnal fly of the same name. Its wings have
the appearance of w, and hence, appear
ing in~the midst of Revolution, the supersti-
tious interpreted Ethose venous resemblances
of w to imply war and want The Gentle
mans Magazine for 1881, contains an exact
cut of the insect, and an accurate description of
its habits. 1t bores through the earth in the
chrysalis state, and, climbing upon the next tree
or fence, there deposites Its shell and takes
wing.
"The singular part of its history is, its APP
pearance only once onco in seventeen years;
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 them in 1896 and in 1909; his father
and grandfather remembered them in 1892 ard
in 1775; his grandfather in 1853. They ap-
peared at no other time in the intervals Of these
periods, except few stragglers in the succee-
ding year, left by chance or injury.
'sThis theory has been doubted. This year
win test its truth, and as assuredly verify it as
that the sun Will set tonight"