R'EPOUr OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 235 



6. They were in the same condition as those I dug up in the summer. There are a 

 number of tall poplars bordering my garden which, no doubt, were the cause of my 

 having such a number of these gruhs. For a piece of ground adjoining mine, where 

 there are only three or four apple trees near it, had very few. About one-tenth of my 

 ground where I had white carrots was badly infested, but I found them scattered among 

 other crops. It is a very unusual occurience for them to be so abundant here." 



Cottony Grass-scale {Eriopeltis festucce, Fonsc). — There has been little reference 

 during the past summer to this insect, treated of in my last report. Mr. D. G. Craw- 

 ford, of Sydney Mines, C. B., N.S., says : — " I noted that the egg-sacs began to be formed 

 about 21sc July, and they were not nearly so numerous as last year, but appeared in 

 other localities to a limited extent. I believe they will disappear in a year or twc«." 



GRASSHOPPERS. — The three species of grasshoppers which have this year committed 

 df^predations on fodder and grain crops throughout the Dominion, are the same as were 

 injurious last year, namely, the Common Red-legged Locust ( Melanoplus Jemior-rubrum^ 

 DeG.), the Lesser Migratory Locust (i/. atlanis, Riley) and the Two-striped Locust 

 (J/, hivitfatus, Say). These were reported as very abundant in some parts of Ontario 

 and Quebec early in the season. In the Ontario Crop Report for August 13th, 

 there is frequent mention of their attacks upon spring and fall wheat, barley, corn, 



pastures, and even on hops. 



-^ 



"** Locusts are generally spoken of by correspondents as 



Grasshoppers, and I cannot see the least objection to 

 using the words " Grasshopper " and " Locust " indiscrim- 

 inately, for although entomologists claim that the word 

 Fig. 5.— A Locust. " Locust " is the more accurate name for those species 



with siiort antennsB (the Acridiidte), the name " Grasshopper" is so universally used and 

 understood for these insects by the public in general that it is certainly wise to recog- 

 nize this word, at any rate, in these reports prepared especially for farmers or those 

 who, with very few exceptions, are not entomologists. Particularly is this the case as it 

 seems difficult to understand why the word " Grasshopper " should be restricted to the 

 Locustidse, or long-horned grasslioppers, while the word " Locust," which we might 

 .naturally suppose would most aptly apply to the Locustidse, should be considered the 

 accurate popular name for the Acridiidje, or short-horned species. Possibly, it may 

 have been because the plague of locusts mentioned in the Bible was known to have con- 

 sisted of a short-horned species, and the application of the word for that reason has 

 become so well known as applied to those forms with short antennoe that, to some, it has 

 seemed unwise to change it. 



The correspondence during the past season, concerning grasshoppers, their injuries 

 and their enemies, is too extensive for us to give more than a few extracts. 



"St. Lin, L'Assomption Co., Que., June 7. — Please tell me the best and most 

 economical plan for destroying grasshoppers. They threaten to destroy the whole 

 crop." — J. P. Arciiambault, Secretary of Agricultural Circle. 



" Mastai, Quebec Co., Que., August 19. — Grasshoppers eating up cabbages." — H. 

 F. Hunt 



" Port Elgin, Bruce Co., Ont., June 16. — During the past few weeks there has 

 been a plague of grasshoppers in this vicinity. They follow the roadsides, eating the 

 grass so closely that it has the appearance of being singed by fire. At intervals they 

 enter the fields, starting at one point and sweep everything clean before them, such as 

 oats, hay and pasture, — pease, so far, being the only exception. In the evening they gather 

 ill countless numbers on the fences of the field they intend to devour, and actually eat 

 into the rail-posts and boards, staying there until the warmth of the day comes, when 

 they again begin their work of destruction. Is there a remedy to stop this fearful 

 plague and save the crops ? Could they be scattered when they commence their inroads 

 on a field, or destroyed on the fences at night ? " 



"June 26. — Fields have been destroyed by grasshoppers. Pastures are singed as 

 if by fire, and the cutting of oats and fall wheat in the green state has begun in some 

 places. A small red insect is to be found under their wings, which is destroying some 



