138 



winter, with deep snows and but little wind to bare the hill-sides, so 

 thaf stock might secure feed. 



Early iu the summer of 1889, soon after the locusts attained their 

 growth and became fledged, they left the valley for the foot-hills and 

 mountains, where their eggs were left iu great quantities in all avail- 

 able places. In this migration the prevailing direction taken by the 

 hoppers was easterly, varying from northeast to southeast. A few of 

 them also went to the north and south, according to the position they 

 occupied upon the prairie in relation to the surrounding and adjoining 

 hills and mountains. Instead of remaining upon the low grounds 

 where there is moisture, they left for the ai)parently arid hill-slopes — a 

 trait not usually supposed to belong to this particular species of locust. 

 On the following spring, that is, the spring of 1890, the deep snows 

 disappeared, and the young first hatched on the hill-sloi)es exposed to 

 the sun's direct rays, the water ran off, and by the time the hoppers 

 were grown was normal on the valleys and low ground, where it was in 

 excess early in the season on account of the deeper snows than usual. 

 Instead of continuing on their course away from the prairie, the 

 hoppers now turned in their tracks and came back to the valley, with its 

 p-T-pener 'jr?.sses, raoister ground, and fields of succulent grain ; and 

 here they have for the most part remained. This year eggs were de- 

 posited upon gravelly spots in the valley. In many cases these are 

 of considerable extent, but usually do not cover an area of more than 

 a few acres. 



Such is the outline history of this particular locust outbreak as nearly 

 as could be ascertained in so brief a time as we had at our command, 

 and with so little opportunity to travel overthe region embraced in the 

 area overrun. This area now extends over a strip of country commenc- 

 ing at a point to the westward of Soldier, Logan County, about 30 miles 

 and extending as far to the westward as Lost River and Birch Creek. 

 It occupies a strip of country about 30 to 50 miles in width and about 

 140 miles in length. The place of greatest abundance appears to be 

 that region usually called the Camas Prairie, on the Malad Eiver and 

 tlie valley of Wood River below Halley. These regions are shown ap- 

 proximately on the accompanying map of Idaho, which I inclose with 

 the report. 



As nearly as I could ascertain no efforts were made during the past 

 four years to keep i he insect in check or to prevent its ravages, save in 

 a single instance. This was done by a Mr. Fred Hastings, who flooded 

 his grain field while the hoppers were still quite small, with the result 

 that as soon as he turned off the water and the fields began to dry the 

 little fellows left. The reason why nothing was tried in the line of 

 remedies is to be laid to discouragement on the part of the settlers, 

 rather than to any other single reason. After we had been in the region 

 and had talked with a number of the ranchmen they felt much en- 

 couraged and have decid' d to see what can be done since the General 



