Locust Birds in the Transvaal. 73 



We obtained a lot of red-locust voetgangers from the 

 District Locust Officer at Piet Retief, which had died of 

 arsenic spray. These were analysed by the Government 

 Chemist and found to contain as much as 0*291 per cent, 

 arsenious oxide as compared to their weight. The average 

 weight of each insect was 0'2 grannne, so that each would 

 contain 0*000086 gramme (or 'OOOlSi grain) of arsenious 

 oxide. 



Of six fowls (three cocks and three hens) two were 

 selected and fed on 15 grains of arsenite of soda each, in 

 porridge. Both died — one within an hour, the second one 

 next morning. 



Post-mortem examination showed effects of arsenical 

 poisoning. 



The other four fowls, two in one cage, were fed on the 

 above-mentioned poisoned voetgangers, which had been dried 

 first — 25 grammes pounded up and mixed with about 

 50 grannnes porridge. This was given once a day for twenty 

 days — that is, from the 6th to the 26th April, 1906. 



All these four fowls were doing well — no sign of poisoning 

 could be noticed ; in fact the fowls are still living, that is, 

 June 1906. 



We have also several reports of Locust Officers as well as 

 private people on record, mentioning the fact that in no case 

 have fowls died which fed on locust voetgangers killed by 

 arsenic spray. 



A report from llustenburg District says that farmers' 

 wives asked the Locust Officer to bring some dead voet- 

 gangers (killed by arsenic spraying) for poultry-food. 



From Waterberg District came a report that some arsenic 

 spraying was done close to the Homestead, and the dead and 

 dying voetgangers were greedily eaten by the fowls. It was 

 expected that they would die, but quite the contrary happened ; 

 the fowls did not die, in fact never seemed better, some 

 infectious disease being stopped at the same time. 



The mature insect, however, might do some harm, even 

 though not poisoned, as fowls, and especially Turkeys, get 



