268 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



former issue, we requested information as to their ravages. 

 One correspondent has responded to that request, and the 

 facts he furnishes, as published below, show that the duty of 

 victualling for a week or two the hosts of locusts that have 

 billetted themselves upon the city and suburbs is far from a 

 trifliug one. The only grain of comfort offered to relieve our 

 minds comes in the shape of a communication from an old 

 colonist, to the effect that the locusts are in the habit of 

 depositing their eggs this month, and that they never long 

 survive this domestic operation. The sooner they set about 

 the preliminaries for their final exit the better. Subjoined is 

 the communication to which reference is made above : — " I 

 observed in the 'Register's' leader this morning that any 

 particulars of ravages done by the locusts would be gladly 

 inserted. Perhaps the following may be worth noticing 

 amongst others, and you may rely upon its correctness, for I 

 write merely what has come under my observation : — Mr. H. 

 Hughes cut two sections of hay (pure wheaten and intended 

 for wheat) about six weeks ago, when quite green, and an 

 excellent crop of green feed followed, which is termed 

 ' second crop.' It was quite thick with young ears on it, and 

 about one foot or one foot and a half high. On Saturday it 

 was standing fresh and green, and at three o'clock in the 

 afternoon there was not a stalk left. Mr. Hughes intended 

 turning his cows in to-day, and had been relying upon the 

 ground providing grazing for some time. Having reserved a 

 small portion of the second crop (which was too good to cut 

 for hay) as seed wheat, he had been unable to turn the stock 

 in before, and it had consequently grown without hindrance. 

 The ground containing the second crop destroyed is about 

 sixty or eighty acres. The locusts were about Burnside in 

 immense numbers, and produced quite a humming or buzzing 

 noise in the air as ihey passed. All seemed to be going S. or 

 S.W. The neighbourhood is still full of them (those left 

 behind), and they are eating every particle of feed down. I 

 am not aware of their having done damage to gardens or 

 standing wheat crops.'" 



"'Delta,' the well-known naturalist of South Australia, 

 writes thus : — ' During the last few weeks, these locusts have 

 done more than their average amount of damage at this 

 season of the year, hiV, judging from past experiences of their 



