The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-05-02

sccts are described as being five hum
dred tathoms wide, three miles long,
and four or five hours in passing. At
Mahratta, an army of red locusts is
vouched for as composing column five
hundred miles long. These were au
illustration of the Lucusta Migratoria.
DR.. Clarke affirms thai the Tartars
dreaded both the Locust Tatarica and
Migratoria, and Mr.. Barrow gives a
similar account of his experiences in
Africa. The orange and pomegranatc
trees Of Morocco, aud in he south of
Europe the olive and the ash, are fed
upon by these insects. The tamarined
trees of NJ. Sinai are likewise thus
visited. All species have an infected
snout, short setaccous an cnn;c, four
mcmbranaccous wings and six feet
The males make music by means of an
extended membrane on the under side
of the abdomen. BY the rapid vibration
of this membrane the sharp, shrill sound
lis produced.
The locusts of the United s atcs do
not compare in their devastating inhu-
cncc with the locusts of an iquity.-
They are both harmless and lovely !;
,lleir song Is pleasing. They boast two
pairs of strong jaws, stomach of extra
ordinary capacity aud power, hind legs
adapted for leaping, and ample vans
which catch !hc wind like sails. The
red eyed cecaIa, commonly known as
the seventeen years locust, has awak-
cned much speculation and contradiction
1t is the popular belief that this species
appears in the places once every seven.
zen years. Many au hors back this
belief. and many contradict it. The
species appeared i'll immense quantities
in Pcnnsy lvania in 1929. The same
quantity appeared in 1884, and ano her
very large swarm in 1913. This would
seem to contradict the common opinion
Fac and fancy are frequently at varl-
ance, and, it fancy has been ac i've in
his mat er, they will probably be found
in opposition in regard to proof.
The ccadas, in a larva state, live for
two years in the ground. When fully
developed, they possess many remarkable
peculiarties. Long ago, The noise they
made was compared to flame driven by
the wind. Their bite was said to be
like fire. The prophet Joel's descrip-
tion of the appearance and ravagcs of
these terrific insects is the most sub
lime and correc- anywhere to be found
Their ability 10 cross the sea, like all
O her mentioned a tributes, is mentioned
by some wri ers, and denied by others.
1t depends upon the species and the age
of the insect, the state and direc ion of
Pthe wind. Their course of flight is said
variouSly to be in meridian line from
sou h 10 north, from north to south,
from cast to west, and from west to
east. In Syria. the Bashaw of Tripoli
once raised four thousand soldiers to
fight against the locusts. He ordered
all the men to be hung who refused to
serve under the circums ances. The
method of driving hem by branches into
deep trenches, and then sutfocating them
with earth, has been employed with
some success, both abroad and in this
country. y shower of them is said to
have fallen not very many gears ago in
latitude IS dogs. north, filing the sails,
rigging. deck, and cabin. There are
fish stories and also locust stories.-
There is truth enough about the genus
to provide MA erial for honest specula-
ton ; there is beauty enough about all
the species to afford some compensation
for the comparatively small evils which
at this period and in this country they
sometimes iuhict.