"Refert Agatharchides, in libro de Mare Rubro, ἀκριδοφάγους, i.e. eos qui vescuntur locustis, corpora habere maxime extenuata et macilenta." Fit food, therefore, of the ascetic. Theophylact understood by ἀκρίδες a wild herb or fruit; but all the most trustworthy commentators besides were of opinion that an animal was intended. The modern Greek interpretation of ἀκρίδες, "the young and tender shoots of plants," may perhaps be traced in what Balth. Stolbergius (see his essay on this passage, the most copious of any) says; maintaining it to be an animal, he adds,-- "Insectum, infirmis pennis alatum, ac proinde altius non evolans, sic dictum ab uredine locorum quæ attingit; quasi loca usta. Græcè, ἀκρὶς, παρὰ τὰς ἄκρας τῶν ἀσταχύων καὶ τῶν φυτῶν νόμεσθαι." The following from _Hieron. adv. Jovinian_, ii. 6., quoted by Drusius, while it asserts that locusts were esteemed as food in some countries, will, perhaps, account for the unwillingness of the Greek friend of your correspondent Βορέας to recognise an animal in the ἀκρίδες of John the Baptist: "Apud orientales et Libyæ populos, quia per desertum et calidam eremi vastitatem locustarum nubes reperiuntur, locustis vesci moris est; hoc verum esse Johannes quoque Baptista probat. Compelle Phrygem et Ponticum ut locustas comedat, nefas putabit." H. C. K. ---- Rectory, Hereford. Will you permit me to observe that the proper word is _locusts_? For I remember when I was at Constantinople in the year 1809, that passing through the fruit and vegetable bazaar, I observed some dried fruits, resembling a large French bean pod; they appeared dry, and were of a brown colour. I inquired the name of "the fruit;" I was told they were "locusts." I was struck with the name, for I remembered the passage in the New Testament, and I could not reconcile my mind to St. John living upon locusts (the insects) and wild honey. I immediately tasted some of the fruit, and found it sweet and good, something similar to the date, but not so good, although nutritious. I was thus instantly convinced of the possibility of St. John living upon "locusts and wild honey" in the desert. I have related to you this fact as it occurred to me. The locust tree must be well known amongst horticulturists. I do not pretend to enter into the question whether the translation is right or wrong, as I am no "scollard," as the old woman said. J. BL. There is in Malta, the north of Africa, and Syria, a tree called the locust tree; it bears a pod resembling the bean, and affords in those countries food for both man and horse, which I have no doubt in my own mind is the locust of the New Testament. If your correspondent feels curious on the subject, I would search the bottom of my portmanteau, and perhaps might be able to forward him a specimen. J. W.