168 TEANSACTIONS OF THE 



CHARACTER OF THE ADULT. 



The jEdipoda atrox, or " atrocious locust," of California, at matur- 

 itj^ presents two so widely different forms as to be regarded by super- 

 ficial observers as two distinct species if not seen in copida. It is a 

 difference dependent upon sex only. The males are the smaller, 

 about an inch long, the wings extending about a fourth of an inch 

 beyond the abdomen, and expanding from an inch and a half to two 

 inches. The color of the body is a liglit yellowish-gray, or straw, 

 with dark lines on the thorax; the outer wings are ashy gray, with 

 blotches of darker gray along the middle. The females are about 

 one-fourth of an inch longer, or one and one-fourth inches long, and 

 twice as heavy, while the color of her body and wing-cases are dark 

 even to a reddish brown tint. The outer wings have a pale line 

 along the upper sides, and the field is blotched with large, angular, 

 almost black spots. 



Both sexes have usually bright, yellow legs, and clear, transparent 

 underwings. A very dark varietj^ has the thigh beautifully chev- 

 roned with white and black, and a light line extending from the base 

 of the wing downward diagonally to the point of the hip, exactly like 

 the marking of the Coloptenus atlanis described. 



The habits of the adult atrox, its destructive power, etc., have been 

 sufficiently illustrated by the "statements of sufferers" given. 

 Only a few more words are necessary to complete its natural history. 

 The atrocious locust lives but one season ; its busy life is spanned hj 

 the lapse of about five months — from the first of May to the first of 

 September. Death often overtakes them at their work of destruction, 

 or in copida, or while the female is ovipositing, with her abdomen 

 whitened and prolonged an inch or more into the ground. 



Nearly the whole bird family, from the swan to the pee-wee, are 

 valiant friends of man in the warfare with locusts. So important is 

 this aid that public sentiment as well as legislation in all the AVest 

 protects the birds from wanton destruction. Prof. S. Aughey inves- 

 tigated this subject for the Commission, and names two hundred 

 and sixty kind of birds in the crops of which he found locusts. 

 Principal of these are domestic fowls, robins, blackbirds, larks, blue- 

 birds, swallows, snipe, plover, ducks, geese, doves, grouse, magpies, 

 and crows. 



In conversation recently with B. B. Redding — than whom Califor- 

 nia has no more useful scientist — -he described at length the habits 

 and adaptability of the migratory Messina quail of Europe for the 

 abatement of the locust pest. It has already been introduced in New 

 England with success. The character of our great plains and of the 

 great valleys of California are supposed to be admirably fitted for this 

 useful bird, which, in off" years of the locust scourge, would furnish 

 excellent game. 



Several quadrupeds rally for the destruction of locusts, including 

 moles, opossums, raccoons, and the common skunk, which for signal 

 service in this cause is voted a benefactor in the West. The Indians 

 of the interior, usually stolid, become quite excited at the approach 

 of locusts, not with fear, but joy, as thej^ proceed to surround and 

 harvest a store of " click ets," in this respect resembling the Arab of 

 the desert, who, at sight of the coming cloud, falls on his face, with 

 loud cries of praise to Allah and the Prophet for sending him food. 



