OF AMERICA. 205 



mesas or plateaus of the republic of Mexico, their ravages have been 

 noted by the old Spanish chroniclers from the iirst conquest and set- 

 tlement of the countries; also by American trappers, hunters, and 

 travellers throughout the same regions for the last fifty-five years, 

 and by English, Russian, and French writers and navigators. Dr. 

 Dwight mentions that they have several times been extremely inju- 

 rious to the growing crops of New England prior to 1800. 



It would seem that the most feasible means of destroying the 

 grasshopper, or diminishing its propagation and increase, is that which 

 nature and circumstances suggest. The extensive conflagration of the 

 grassy plains and hills of California has been noticed ever since the 

 years 1542-'43, in the account of the voyage of Juan Rodrigues 

 Cabillo, and particularly near San Pedro, (the present embarcadero 

 for Los Angeles,) which he named the Bay of Smoke. The entire 

 range of California, Utah, and Eastern Oregon, and neighboring 

 countries being deserts, prairies, or lands of hills and mountains 

 sparsely covered with trees, and everywhere thickly or thinly with 

 grasses, we know they become excessively dry for three months of the 

 year, when they either take fire from accident or design, or, as is most 

 likely in some cases, from the attrition of the leaves and glazed stalks 

 in a dry and windy day. As soon as the parched vegetation is fired, 

 with a good breeze of wind it will burn an immense district of country 

 before it is stopped by a wide road, a dry river bed, running water, or 

 damp ground. In its progress it consumes all animated nature not 

 capable of speedy flight or escape, and destroys the undeveloped larvae 

 and millions of eggs of the grasshopper, as well as thousands of the 

 full grown insects, whose wings and legs get singed and burnt in 

 trying to make their escape from the devouring element. The wind 

 at times conspires to bring immense numbers of them within the in- 

 fluence of the fire, and so to stifle them as to bring them to the ground. 

 In a strong gale, when swarms of grasshoppers are on the wing high 

 in the air, they are swept along until, as the breeze slackens, they fall 

 into the waters of large bays, seas, and cover large extents of the 

 surface of the ocean, where they become a prey to greedy fishes. 



The annual conflagration of our plains occurred this year (1855) 

 very early, which circumstance had considerable effect in destroying 

 the swarms of grasshoppers, as, to escape the heat, they endeavored 

 to keep out of the influence of the fires, and being driven before 

 the winds, were swept into Siuson bay in incredible numbers. The 

 passengers in the steamer from Sacramento to San Francisco, on 

 Saturday, the 14th of July, state that they fell in such numbers into 

 the waters of the bay as to completely cover in places the surface. 

 "When driven ashore afterwards with the tides they filled the air with 

 an intolerable stench. 



The Indians take the grasshoppers in great numbers by sweep- 

 ing them into holes or piles, or by surrounding tliem with fire and 

 driving them into the centre, and afterwards roasting and pounding 

 them for food. But this is always found to sicken the Indians — 

 a fact which has been noted by the pioneer settlers and natives 

 of old, as also by many travellers and voyagers who have visited 



