121 



considerable time to take toll of it, as is reported above by the Leaven- 

 worth Tribune. (Page 117.) Hence, I infer that the whole brood 

 of Hateful Grasshoppers, both young and old, throughout Kansas, 

 Nebraska and Missouri, were, in the spring and summer of 1867, in a 

 more or less diseased and abnormal state in consequence of the great 

 change in the "Conditions of Life" previously referred to. (Page 

 11;J.) This accounts for the fact that, comparatively, so little dam- 

 age was done by them, when we take into consideration the enormous 

 numbers tbat hatched out. Likely enough, a very large proportion of 

 them died a natural death, before they arrived at years of discretion, as 

 indicated in some of the above reports, and in others that will be 

 given hereafter. 



The following excellent history of this pernicious insect appears 

 to have been written about the middle of July, 1867, and is from the 

 pen of Mr. W. F. Goble, of Pleasant Eidge, Kansas. It first appeared 

 in the Monthly Reports of the Afjricultural Department for 1867, (pp. 



390—1.) 



"These Grasshoppers, or Mountain Locusts as many call them, 

 made their appearance in the western part of Kansas late in August, 

 or about the beginning of September, 1866. The first intimation 

 had here of their approach was the delay of the eastward-bound train, 

 from Fort Riley and Manhattan, on account of the immense numbers 

 of insects crushed on the track, thereby destroying the friction of the 

 driving-wheels. About the 27th of the same month they made their 

 appearance in Eastern Kansas, progressing at the rate of from 5 to 10 

 miles a day, or according to the velocity of the wind in the direction 

 they travel. Tbeir general course seemed to be from the north-west to 

 the south-east. A contrary wind greatly impeded their progress, and 

 when a strong breeze had to be overcome, they could not make any 

 progress at all in their favorite direction, but generally remained on 

 the ground rather than attempt to proceed, and spent their time in 

 consuming everything accessible in the vegetable line. 



"They travel in the air like bees, some flying at an immense 

 height, as can be seen on a clear day by looking toward the sun. When 

 first appearing in any particular locality it is in the manner of a 

 cloud, the insects descending to the earth like dropping rain. They 

 commence at once devouring all vegetable substances in their way, 

 showing, of course, a preference at first. Vegetables possessing the 

 property of sweetness in any degree, as green corn, sorghum, etc., es- 

 cape till all others in the vicinity are consumed. But everything of 

 an acid or sour taste, as cabbage, [ ?] or rhubarb, (pie-plant,) as well 

 as bitter and even hot snl)?tances, such as tobacco and red or Cayenne 



