154 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



pecks of grasshoppers, or more properly locusts. " His mode of 

 catching them was by attaching two sheets together, and fastening 

 them to a pole, which was used as the front part of the drag. 

 The pole extended beyond the width of the sheets, so as to admit 

 persons at both sides to draw it forward. At the sides of the 

 drag, braces extended from the pole to raise the back part consid- 

 erably from the ground, so that the grasshoppers could not es- 

 cape. After running the drag about a dozen rods with rapidity, 

 the braces were taken out, and the sheets doubled over ; the 

 grasshoppers were then swept from each end towards the centre 

 of the sheet, where was left an opening to the mouth of a bag 

 which held about half a bushel ; when deposited and tied up, the 

 drag was again opened and ready to proceed. When this bag 

 was filled so as to become burthensome, (their weight is about 

 the same as that of the same measure of corn,) the bag was open- 

 ed into a larger one, and the grasshoppers received into a new 

 deposit. The drag can be used only in the evening, when the 

 grasshoppers are perched on the top of the grain. His manner of 

 destroying them was by dipping the large bags into a kettle of 

 boiling water. When boiled, they had a reddish appearance, and 

 made a fine feast for the farmer's hogs." When these insects are 

 very prevalent on our salt marshes, it will be advisable to mow 

 the grass early, so as to secure a crop before it has suffered much 

 loss. The time for doing this will be determined by data fur- 

 nished in the foregoing pages, where it will be seen that the most 

 destructive species come to maturity during the latter part of 

 July. If then, the marshes are mowed about the first of July, the 

 locusts, being at that time small and not provided with wings, will 

 be unable to migrate, and will consequently perish on the ground 

 for the want of food, while a tolerable crop of hay will be secured, 

 and the marshes will suffer less from the insects during the follow- 

 ing summer. This, like all other preventive measures, must be 

 generally adopted, in order to prove effectual ; for it will avail a 

 farmer but little to take preventive measures on his own land, if 

 his neighbours, who are equally exposed and interested, neglect 

 to do the same. Among the natural means which seem to be 

 appointed to keep these insects in check, violent winds and 

 storms may be mentioned, which sometimes sweep them off in 



