Academy of Science 27 



wiuffed locusts were first seen to rise, for final departure, on the third of June. By 

 the twelfth of June, just two weeks from the time the last moult commenced, very 

 few remained in the pupa condition. To-day, June fourteenth, nearly all have 

 taken their flight from my garden, a few stragglers only remaining behind, gen- 

 erally unable to fly on account of imperfect wings. 



The direction of their flight I liave carefully noted. Wlien the wind is strong 

 they fly with ihe wind. If the wind is light they fly towards the northwest, by 

 •what appears to be a natural instinct. Thus on June seventh, with a southwest 

 wind, moving, according to the University anemometer, at the rate of three miles 

 an liour, the locusts were flying in vast numbers in a direction a little to the north 

 of west, nearly in the face of the VDind. On June twelftli, also, with a northeast 

 wind blowing at the rate of four miles an hour, they were flying in greater numbers 

 than ever before in a uorthwest course, at ricjlit angles to the direction of the wind. 

 It is therefore my belief that the natural instinct of the winged locusts of the spring 

 hatching is to move towards the northwest, and though they may be temporarily 

 delayed by contrary gaiCs, that they will sooner or later, with ranks decimated by 

 weakened constitutions and by the ravages of birds and parasites, arrive at their 

 natural home in the moxjntains. It is even possible that none may live to reach the 

 original home of the sjjecies. I do not consider the Eastern States to be in any 

 danger from a locust invasion. I have observed hundreds of winged locusts fall to 

 the ground during flight, either already dead or soon dying. These, upon exam- 

 ination, have generally proved to contain no parasites, and I judge that their death 

 was in consequence of impaired strength, this second generation raised in an unnat- 

 ural climate not equalling in vitality the first generation and succumbing to the 

 fatigue consequent upon extended flight. 



In regard to the natural enemies of the locust, I have observed a little external 

 red parasite under the rudimentary Avings of the pupa, and sometimes upon the 

 body and secondary wings of the imago. These are mites, of the same class of 

 insects as the spiders, and are not eg(jH as some have supposed. Tliey occur in num- 

 bers from one to a dozen upon a single locust, and suck the life-fluid from its body, 

 Placing about one quart of the locusts by themselves in a breeding cage, June fifth, 

 I bred from them, within two weeks, some twenty specimens of parasitic flies 

 belonging to three different species. One of these was the common Flesh-fly {Sar- 

 cophaga earnaria), and the other two Avere of the genus Tachina, the species not yet 

 detennined. I have also discovered several specimens of tlie Spined Soldier-bug 

 {Arma spinosa), each with its jointed beak inserted in a locust of more tliau double 

 its own size, and not leaving its victim until life was entirely extinguished. The 

 large flj^ commonly termed the Bee-killer (Asilus),- has been seen destroying the 

 locusts in considerable numbers. Spiders have aided in the work of exterminating 

 the pest. Finally, I am able to offer scientific proof that at least seven species of 

 birds feed upon the locusts, having found them in the gizzards of the Red-headed 

 Woodpecker {Melanerpcs erythrocephalus). Yellow-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus America- 

 nus), Cat-bird {Mimus Oarolinensis), Red-'jyed Vireo ( Vireo olivaceus), Great-crested 

 Flycatcher {Myiarchus crinitus), Crow Blackbird {Quiscalus versicolor)^ and Blue- 

 bird (Sialia sialis). 



The preceding account being based entirely upon personal observations of the 

 writer at his own home, it must not be inferred that the ravages of the locusts have 

 been equally severe in the whole State of Kansas. The destruction by these pests 

 for tlie year 1875 has been confined to a narrow strip on the eastern border of the 

 State. Kansas, as a whole, never had finer promise of bountiful crops tlian at tlie 



