— 26 — 



grounds are so far from water, as well as in quite dry regions 

 many other birds would congregate about and feed on them 

 throughout winter as they do in spring and summer. 



No doubt by watching for the proper opportunities, large 

 numbers of the insects could be destroyed b}' man during the 

 hibernating" season. Fires might be utilized for this purpose as 

 was shown during the past winter in the vicinit}" of Ceres and 

 Monogotes. Other methods that will be described in a subse- 

 quent chapter might also prove valuable at this time of j^ear. 



FooD-HABiTS. — This is a rather difticult subject to write on, 

 since our locust seems to be capable of adapting its tastes to 

 an exceedingl}^ long list of food-plants. In fact, if one were 

 inclined to name all of its food-plants and also those which it 

 will not eat, the latter list would be by far the smaller of the 

 two lists. Still when this habit of our acridian is compared with 

 that of the MeUviophis spretu^ of North America, we can 

 console ourselves by the thought that after all our insect is 

 quite fastidious in its tastes. 



The first paragraph under the heading of "Food-plants," in the 

 First Report of the United States Entomological Commission 

 reads as follows : 



"The Rocky Mountain Locust may be said to be almost 

 omnivorous. Scarceh^ anything comes amiss to the ravenous 

 hosts when famished. They will feed upon the dry bark of 

 trees or the dry lint of seasoned fence-planks ; and upon dr\- 

 leaves, paper, cotton and woolen fabrics. They have been seen 

 literally covering the backs of sheep, eating the wool ; and 

 whenever one of their own kind is \veak or disabled from 

 whatsoever cause, they go for him or her with cannibalistic 

 ferocit}", and soon finish the struggling and kicking unfortunate. 

 They do not refuse even dead animals, but have been seen 

 feasting on dead bats and birds. Few things, therefore, come 

 amiss to them. Yet where food is abundant they are fastidious 

 and much prefer acid, bitter, or peppery food to that which is 

 sweet ". 



In unsettled districts this Argentine locust is inclined to 

 attack the leaves of trees, shrubs, herbs and most of the grasses; 

 but among these a few kinds remain untouched b}^ it. O I 

 cultivated plants even fewer escape its attacks, but many are 

 eaten onl}' sparingly so long as there is plenty of other food 

 to be had. All grains and most grasses suffer first, after whidi 

 follow other forage plants. 



