208 GRASSHOPPERS AND LOCUSTS 



wings double like the others, bat larger and colored variably, according 

 to their age and sex, which we shall hereafter note. 



" These largest grasshoppers are those we shall particularly account 

 for in what we relate. They assimilate in their habits and modes of 

 generation to those of the silk worm. The two sexes come together in 

 the hottest days of the summer season ; the female, at the latter part of 

 July or early in August, lays a number of fine, small eggs of a yellowish 

 color, in a string, united with a glutinous matter, which, on being 

 perceived, appears like a cord of fine silk. These are deposited together 

 and dropped into a small hole which they make in the ground with a 

 small apparatus attached to their tails. Each female lays from seventy 

 to eighty eggs, and sometimes more. Shortly after fulfilling the great 

 law of nature, the grasshoppers quickly degenerate and die without 

 taking care of their lives or of each other_, but leaving in their eggs 

 the seeds of a numerous posterity. 



" The birth of these new grasshoppers has no particular time, but 

 is dependent on the early or late appearance of the rains, but generally 

 hatch during the latter part of September or early in October, when, 

 from the scarce rains of California, the germs and buds of plants are 

 left in the fields. Shortly after birth, while they are without wings, 

 their lower legs are very large but shaped like those of a mosquito; the 

 color of the insect is then a dark gray. Their first exercise is to jump 

 on to the nearest green thing. If there is none near by they keep 

 jumping and moving to the nearest green plant, and generally in com- 

 pany with those of the same nest and mother. As soon as they have 

 consumed the leaves of one plant they pass to another, by little assuming 

 a brighter color, and then the difierent families begin to unite. When 

 they arrive at half size their color is a perfect green. At this time their 

 legs have become strong and they jump higher and farther, and exer- 

 cise and contrive the best method for seeking their food while passing 

 along the fields. A few days after assuming their green coat, they 

 cast their skin or outer covering, and then display their four wings 

 which are close shut to their bodies. The color then becomes green, 

 mixed with dark gray. When they are three months old they are com- 

 plete in size, form, and features, and become of a reddish gray with 

 blackish spots. Its appearance as thus seen is the only beauty of this 

 pestilent plague of California. They maintain these features until the 

 hot, dry weather, when they become yellowish until their death. 

 Their life, from birth to death, lasts ten months, during which they 

 cast their coats twice and change their colors five times. 



" When their wings have become of sufficient strength and the body 

 at its maturity, they then begin to ascend into the air and fly like 

 birds, and commence their ravages in every direction, desolating the 

 fields of every green thing. Their numbers become so extraordinary 

 that they soon form clouds in the atmosphere which the rays of the 

 sun cast a shadow as they fly. They unite in masses often and twelve 

 thousand, always following their conductors and flying in a direct line 

 without falling behind, for they consume every growing thing before 

 them. To whatever height their guides conduct them to obtain a sight 

 of their food they follow, and as soon as growing crops or any ver- 

 dure is sighted, instantly the swarm will alight and speedily devour 



