THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN TAOS VALLEY. 53 
MIGRATORY LOCUSTS. 
TAOS VALLEY, Jime 2, 1883. 
The first locusts of which I could learn came into the Taos Valley from 
the east during the latter part of May, 1876. They were exceedingly 
numerous, and during the summer, all through which they remained, 
they destroyed almost the entire grain crop, leaving a little in only two 
or three small sections to the south and west of the town of Taos. 
In the fall (September) of the year they deposited numerous eggs, 
which hatched the following spring in great numbers, and much damage 
resulted during spring and summer (1877). After attaining wings, a few 
left to the westward, but the majority remained and deposited their 
eggs, which produced a third brood in the spring of 1878. 
In 1877 the crop averaged nearly one-half, and in 1878 a trifle over a 
half of the usual yield, but this last year many farmers had become dis- 
couraged and refused to plant; hence the crop planted was below the 
average for the valley. During the locust visitation several modes of 
warfare were tried by a few of the most enterprising citizens, but with- 
out any great or decided results. It is related that when the locusts 
first appeared the storekeepers then in the valley offered the inhabitants 
as a bounty a pound of coffee for each pound of locusts captured and 
killed. At first this was not hard on them, but shortly, as the country 
folk learned how to capture the locusts, the offer was withdrawn, as the 
coffee went too rapidly and without any apparent diminution in the 
number of locusts. Methods for the destruction of and protection 
from the young were various, and in most instances quite similar to 
those adopted .in other portions of the country. Coal oil or kerosene 
was used in mixtures of various strengths and sprinkled on the crops, 
which for two or three days after the application was quite effectual in 
keeping off the young, but gradually, as the scent of the oil disappeared, 
the wheat also began to disappear before the-little “hoppers. Several 
tried oil on the surface of the water in the irrigating ditches with some 
little effect for the time being, but all to no purpose in the end. Another 
method, and by far the most unique used, was the spreading of wagon 
Sheets on the ground, after which the little hoppers were driven upon 
them, and then the sides gathered up and several large round stones 
dropped in and rolled about by keeping the sheet agitated until all the 
little feilows were killed. I was assured that a very large number of 
the young were destroyed in this manner. 
During the summer of 1878 those locusts that matured left to the 
westward, and it is claimed that since then none of this species have 
been seen in the valley. 
There is a valley 20 miles south of here in which there were afew in 1879 
and also in some isolated spots in 1880, but during neither of these years 
did they do very great or general injury to the crops over the valley. 
While in these valleys, in this portion of New Mexico, it is claimed that 
