156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



"red-legged locust," 



Differs mainly from spretus in being mucli shorter, ivhile of the same 

 tJiickuess, the hind sJianks {tibia} generally reddish, the apex of the 

 abdomen in the males not notched, but truncate, as if cut squarely off. 

 This species is indigenous in all parts of the Union, and often 

 becomes migratory and terribly destructive. This species is normally 

 found quietly feeding in California, but is suspected of multiplying 

 and becoming the great plague of 1855. Caloptenus atlanis, or "lesser 

 locust," most resembles spretus, having the notched apex to the male 

 abdomen described, but it is much smcdler and shorter, only about 

 three-fourths of an inch long; its wings relatively longer, extending 

 one-third their length beyond the abdomen. But the most readily 

 recognized distinctions of this species is found in the deeper, more 

 livid color of the dark parts, and the paler yellow of the light parts, 

 the colors thus more strongly contrasting, and especially by a pcde 

 wKite line running obliquely from the base of the wings down to tJie hind 

 thigh. This little species is native to all of North America, generally 

 remains where hatched, but often becomes abundant and migratory, 

 and then is capable of as much mischief as spretus. It is supposed 

 to have aided in locust devastations on the Pacific Coast in the noted 

 "locust year" of 1855. 



In subsequent articles will be discussed the California scourge — 

 cedipodra atrox — its natural history and habits, its ravages in Cali- 

 fornia, its enemies, the future outlook, etc., as illustrated by obser- 

 vations in Sierra Vallej^ and elsewhere during the late terrible 

 invasion. Also the subjects of locust anatomy, sexual habits, egg- 

 laying, embryology, and metamorphosis will be discussed in con- 

 nection with this species. 



During the summers of 1877, 1878, and 1879 a species of grasshop- 

 per or locust has appeared in Sierra Valley, and, increasing in num- 

 bers with each year, has done an immense amount of damage. The 

 insect came in from the north at first in small, scattering swarms 

 that occasioned no great alarm. It was known that grasshoppers in 

 considerable numbers had infested regions to the north for several sea- 

 sons, but as the district was mainly desert or uncultivated lands the 

 locusts attracted but little attention. But, arrived in the fertile 

 Sierra Valley, the insect rapidly multiplied from year to j^ear, and 

 devoured the crops so thoroughly in places that terror seized the 

 inhabitants, and at once the greatest interest was manifested. When 

 the small size of the valley is considered, the few acres that are cul- 

 tivable, and the newness of the settlements, the severity of the scourge 

 will be better understood. 



SIERRA VALLEY AND ITS PRODUCTS. 



Sierra A'alley is one of the links or jewels in the long chain of 

 high, fertile valleys flanking the east slope of the Sierra from Lake 

 Talioe to the Big Meadows, around the base of Lassen. It lies in 

 both Sierra and Plumas Counties and near the State line, at an 

 elevation of 5,300 feet. It is nearly crescent-shaped, extending 

 north and south thirty miles, with a width of from seven to fifteen 

 miles. The principal product is grass, which, forming rich meadows 

 along the streams, gives rise to many large dairying establishments. 



