No. 4.] DAWSON — LOCUST INVASION OP 1875. 217 



swarms for some hours flew over the city of Winnipeg; at the 

 same time thousands of them were coming to the ground. In 

 a few days after they extended their excursion to Lake Winni- 

 peg, but numbers of them left before they had deposited their 

 eggs. Yet millions of eggs were deposited, but as the last 

 spring, 1875, was very late, the ground kept cold during the 

 most part of the month of May, the locusts were very late in 

 being hatched ; some made their appearance about the 10th of 

 May, and others as late as the last week in that month. They 

 were numerous in some places ; however I am of opinion that if 

 the people had made a combined effort to destroy them during 

 the first and second weeks of their existence, could not have 

 failed in destroying many of them, and would by so doing, had 

 they sown or planted, have raised both wheat and potatoes. 

 Most people however became discouraged, and could not be per- 

 suaded to make the least effort to rid the land of the plague." 



I have to thank the various gentlemen who have kindly re- 

 plied in answer to my circular asking information, and beg to 

 suggest that in all cases of the appearance of the locust, careful 

 notes be kept as to dates, directions of flight, &e. 



In the subjoined digest, of the more important items received 

 from the various localities, the places are arranged in order 

 from west to east. 



Fort McLeod, North-west Territory. (R. R. Merritt, M.D.) 

 No young insects observed. Foreign swarms arrived July 19th 

 from the south-west, and continued passing, or on the ground — 

 though most of them went on — till about August 25th ; went 

 north-westward. Eggs were deposited and some known to have 

 hatched in the autumn. No cultivation here, but 25 per cent, 

 of prairie grass eaten. Mr. Merritt adds: "In April, 1876, 

 many young black hoppers seen around Fort McLeod. On my 

 trip from Row River, I saw a tract of country 70 miles wide 

 covered with young grasshoppers. They appeared to be tating 

 the grass, and only moving when disturbed." 



Morleyville, Bow River, N. W. T. (J. Macdougall.) Pro- 

 duced here from the egg, hatching May 20th. Left in August 

 going southward. A great swarm arrived on the wing from the 

 northward about August 10th, the main body passed overhead 



