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So persistent are these quite small saltonas in bunching dur- 

 ing the first four or five cla3^s of their life that but little time 

 appears to be spent by them in feeding. Even up to and after 

 the change to the second stage they remain so compact!}' 

 together that they are more frequenth' seen " piled up " than 

 scattered about. In fact the second shedding of the skin takes 

 place while the insects are thus huddled together. Should they 

 happen to take a notion to change their situation during this 

 first week of their life they go " eii masse ^^ and do not march 

 in open file as they do in later life. 



This clustering seems to be of benefit to the insects since the 

 necessar3Mnoisture that is required at the time of molting, as 

 well as during their very small size, is thus more readih' retain- 

 ed. In fact where these insects hatch in small numbers and on 

 comparatively bare ground they soon shrivel up and die for 

 lack of the necessary moisture. Especially is this the case when 

 the weather is hot and dry, or in arid regions. 



While this bunching in early life may be an inherited instinct, 

 it serves the purpose of keeping the small saltonas alive Avhere 

 other species not possessing the same habit would perish for 

 lack of the necessary moisture. It is this habit very likely that 

 greatly aids in the increase of pantiicusis where other forms 

 of locusts remain normal in number. 



After they have transformed to the second larval or saltona 

 stage, and have become sufficiently hardened to withstand 

 greater hardships, these small locusts begin to move about a 

 little more freely. Each one now seems more inclined to shift 

 for itself than it did before. Still, even now the ranks are kept 

 pretty close, and at night the bunching is resumed. In this 

 second larval stage the insects also occasionally die of heat and 

 drought, but very seldom if ever later. When the skin is again 

 shed and the third stage is reached our locust really begins 

 life as if he meant to grow up. breeding begins in earnest and 

 foraging expeditions are made in company with others as 

 ambitious as himself During the fourth and fifth stages, 

 however, is the time when the true migratory instinct is deve- 

 loped and our insect exhibits its marching qualities. It is at 

 this stage of its existence that the greatest amount of damage 

 is done. 



The saltona oí paraueiis/s is more of a walker than a jumper. 

 At no time is it capable of jumping much over six or seven 

 inches high, and much oftener scarceh' reaches an altitude of 



