The Lively Locust

[FJrou thp Nrw York World.] Staten inbind mul New Jersey are warming witli sevcnteen-year loeust. A few days ago the oarth under the, trees began to open with innumerable eirculnr holes, and insects an inch in lengtli and complotcly euveloped iu a liglit-brown transhieent shull carne crawling forth. Sometimes tllere wonld oiily be from twelve, to fiftoon of tíiose holes under a tree, and again tho ground would be ridilled likc a sieve. As they crawled along the ground they burst tlieir light exterior coverings or shells, and struggled forth, perfectjy.forraed winged insects, leaving their outgrown sliells behind them nnder the trees. ïliey crawled up the tree-trunks, cliiiging to the bark with their forked antennre. When they have reaclied üie limbs they crawl out to the ends of the branches and tasten themsclves to the growing twigs. Tliey never attoch themselves to the branches except at a distance from the trunk, and commonly withiu eight inches of the farthest tips. Trees can now be seen on Staten island whose, brunches are weighed down at the ends and blackened with the swarms. Here the ground in mnny places in literally honeycombed under the trees, and the shrubs and flowers, as well as the trees, are covered with a clinging burden of insects. The flowers in many gardens will be injured from the mere weight of the loeusts, but it is not believed tliat the Bhrftba aud trees are likely to suffer. The feiiutle loenst uudoubtedly eats the leaves and tender pith of the twigs, but it is not voracious, and the great Iwdy of the tree will not bc temched. The males keep up prolonged hummiug, and their incessiint rub-a-dub-dub, from morning to uiglit, is the only annoyance which is so far ftppreciable. Tlie shells cover the ground, but the insects have crawled out of the way, and the more nervous resident have overeóme their firstdislike at crushing the erisp, hollow bodies at every step. Old farmers say that the seventeen-year loeusts do more good than harm. Of course many of the twigs witlier and fall off, but the trees do not suffer, nor is the fruit-crop damaged. It is a common tradition among the farmers that, after loenst yeur, they liave the following season an uuusually large apple erop ; for the locusta serve to prune the tree, and the f trees areactuallybenefited by tlieir visit.