158 TRANSACTIONS 01 THE 



STATEMENTS OF SUFFERERS. 



From the mass of statements a few are subjoined as presenting char- 

 acteristic habits of the pest. 



Walter Ede, of Adam's Neck, has a ranch of 1,280 acres; lost $1,500. 

 The grasshoppers came in through Beckworth Pass and from Last 

 Chance Valley to the north, two years previously; flew up and down the 

 Neck like uneasy birds, devouring the leaves of the grass and grain 

 where they alighted at tirst, and subsequently cutting off the stalks ; 

 laid eggs in the fall in hard, dry knolls, about an inch deep, and 

 packing them away on end, about three dozen in a nest; hatched out 

 about May 10th, of next year. The little black young ones traveled 

 about in droves like pigs, and moved but a little way in a day, eating 

 enormously. After becoming winged, about July 1st, they rose in 

 immense swarms, flew up the Neck in the morning and down in the 

 afternoon, stopping after filling their crops. 



A. B. Huntley, living on Adam's Creek, but further out in the val- 

 ley, has 800 acres of grass land; lost $1,200. Locusts came from the 

 north, laid eggs in the dry banks of the creek and in the large hum- 

 mocks with which the ranch abounds. Hatched out some of them 

 each day for a month. The first about May fifth. Wings appeared 

 during the early days of July. Insects were so numerous as to seriously 

 impede travel. Were of a straw color or ashy brown, about an inch 

 long, with clear wings and yellow legs. His invalid daughter pre- 

 served a specimen which, though mutilated, served to help solve the 

 question of species. 



Wm. Arms, between Adam's Neck and Beckworth, has a ranch of 

 800 acres, mostly pasture land. Lost $1,500. The locusts overrun 

 his fields, but laid but few eggs there. Came at first from over the 

 mountains to the north, but the second year from the island, a dry 

 region near the center of the valley, where they were numerous the 

 season before. Most of the damage was done in three weeks. Did 

 not fight them. Too many. 



Thomas F. West, near Loyalton, saw the locusts in Last Chance and 

 Clover Valleys three years before. Came to his ranch about June 1st 

 from " the island." Their flight was only a few feet from the ground; 

 struck heavily against fences and buildings. In_ the morning hours 

 many of them flew southward, then, after feeding, returned in the 

 afternoon. Many remained and deposited eggs in August on v/arm, 

 gravelly knolls. Large patches literallj^ filled with eggs. His 

 neighbor. Dr. Webber, noticed that the males outnumbered the 

 females six to one; gathered about the females in bunches while 

 she was engaged in depositing eggs. Wonders how she managed to 

 make a hole for her nest in such hard material as gravel knolls and 

 cement beds. 



John Schroder, west of Loyalton, from a small grain ranch lost 

 $2,500. The armies of locusts came from "the island," divided near 

 his ranch, one wing proceeding on up Smith's neck by Loyalton, the 

 other turning westward toward Sierraville; were about three weeks 

 eating his crops. 



He fought them diligently with the aid of his large family, thus 

 saving his garden and potato patch, worth $800; frightened them 

 ofl" with papers tied to a stick and brandished about the small 

 inclosures; the insects very thick on the ground; were gathered in 



