The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-04-07
INSECT PLAGUE.
The Terrible Onset Of an Army
of Hungry Locusts.
Repelling Their Visits--Utilizing
them for Food.

A writer in tho English Mechanic
says that an army OF locusts is won
derful and an interesting sight to the
traveller who does not own yard of
soil, and is mere onlooker at their
frightful devastation. 1t is Attila and
his innumerable horses rushing over the
vegetable world. To-day the wide
plains are shining green with dense
foliage; tomorrow, nothing but brown
twigs and bare branches, when the lc-
gions move off on their combined mis-
sion. As they arrive, the dense, dark
clouds moving up from the horizon, and
often obscuring the SUMS rays, proclaim
the approach of the widely dreaded
scourge. The alarmed villagers con-
gregate on the expected line of march,
beating drums and brass pots, shouting
and lighting bonfres and making all
kinds of hideous noises. On ono occa-
sion, in South Africa, drove off tho
enemy from a friends garden by
making four heaps of damp rubbish
one at each corner, in preparation, and
then lighting them at the proper
moment, we dispersed the advance
guard, our columns of thick smoke being
carried by the wind upon the main
body which altered its route. Horses
and oxen, their heads and nostrils tor
mented by the clinging limbs of tho
swarms were boiling away to the woods,
kicking and plunging in their nasty
flight A kissing, cracking sound
arose on all sides, the whole air seemed
to be occupied by the falling and flying
iInps of mischief, The '1ocust bIrds'
Ga kind of crane) lowered in small
parties on their TANKS, and subsisted on
very small percentage Of the insect
hosts. In desert localities, the
hungry pests actually pitched on
bones, mating, sticks, etc, and
falling in meal, attacked and de-
voured each other On another oc-
Caslon ldrOVe Tor miles along a sandy
tract, the wheels Of the vehicle crush
ing myriads of the newly-hatched in
sects, all crawling and creeping, with
migratory instinct, toward the cult
waited tracts. In India locust visits are
fewer between, but far more formidable,
owing to the overwhelming masses.
Sometimes a series of clouds, composed
of their flights, cover several miles
simultaneously. Fortunately there arc
several birds and beasts in quest Of their
bodies, and / have even seen them
sailed, dried and sold in tho markets.
! have often inspected a dish Of curried
locust, but could not bring
sufficient amount Of curiosity
to bear on the tasting ex-
pertinent, though prawny odor went
up with the steam. The fishes are great
devourers Of these winged visitors, for
they fall into lakes and rivers during
changes Of wind and weather. Besides
fires made Of green rubbish at top, l
found gunpowder explosions very useful
in soaring them away from the vicinity
Of my garden. When several successive
hordcs alighted on my grass land
loaded my gun with dust shot, and,
stopping low on the ground, discharged
the contents Of both barrels into their
midst. Having done so several times,
enjoyed the welcome sight Of seeing
them rising into the air and going else
where. have no doubt small cannon
on such occasions, heavily loaded with
sharp sand, would hasten their flight.