The locust plague and its suppression / by Æneas Munro.

  • Munro, Aeneas.
Date:
[1899]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The locust plague and its suppression / by Æneas Munro. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The First Appearance of the Locusts in their Temporary Homes 73. “A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand.”—The locusts make their appearance in their temporary homes in large companies or swarms, composed of an innumerable number, as flying locusts—these may be termed “invading” or “wandering” companies. They are sometimes so numerous that when about seven to ten miles distant the swarm appears as a cloud in the atmosphere, and really forms one so black in the clear and rarefied air of the countries which they visit as to at once attract attention and wonder from its peculiarity. At first, unless you have experience, you are apt to imagine the cloud can only come from the burning of a forest, or a camp fire from undried material, on account of its unusually darkened colour. By watching the cloud you will soon be undeceived, and the “vanguard” of the flock will make their appearance around you. By and by, when the cloud itself approaches near to you, which it does with certainty and force, for it is a travelling community going in a certain direction, you are then at once surrounded by locusts. 74. The constituents of the “cloud.”—It is impossible to estimate the number of locusts in these clouds, but some idea may be formed from the fact that when they are driven, as sometimes is the case in a storm, into the sea, so many are washed ashore that they lie on the beach as a bank from three to four feet thick for fifty to a hundred miles in length, and the stench from the corruption of their bodies, it is affirmed, is sensibly perceived for 150 miles inland, enough to generate contagious effluvia and a pestilence. In other cases, when the cloud composes itself and spreads out, there is an unbroken area covered by them of several hundred miles in length and breadth t Captain Beaufort has recorded a cloud of locusts forty miles long by three hundred yards in depth, and which he estimated must have contained 169 billions of locusts; but really in face of these facts one loses all count of numbers, the crowd is so appalling. 75. The “ cloud ” eclipses the sun.—The movements of the locusts on the wing as seen when they thus surround you is curious, interesting, and pretty. Distant vision for the time being is impeded on account of their numbers and density. More especially is this the case immediately overhead, thus proving the enormous thickness of the cloud. The effect when you look on them in the sun’s rays resembles snow falling thickly and gently. This effect is caused by the rays falling on their constantly-moving wings. So enormous is the multitude that the sun can be looked at as if there was an Eclipse—its light is darkened, and shadows cannot then be cast from it. Sometimes when thus caught in a cloud of flying locusts, especially if riding against them
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