“What does locust mean?” asked the wise Padre. Nobody seemed to know.
“It means leaping,” said the Padre.
“That’s how we catch them,” said Fil. “Before their wings grow, they jump. We dig deep ditches and chase them by beating drums, for they dislike noise. They jump and fall into the ditch, which, however, is too high for them to jump out of. Then we pour on oil and burn them.”
“If we didn’t, they’d eat up all our crops,” remarked the Padre.
“I know a bird that catches them. I’ve seen it,” said Fil, whose eyes were very sharp, like a boy scout in the woods.
“What kind of a bird?” inquired Filippa, who loved bird pets.
“A kind of Chinese ground-lark. It has large eyes and a long bill, and its feathers are spotted,” replied Fil.
