﻿88 EIGHTH ANNUAL RERORT 



A great many stopped here on tlie 20th, clins;ins: to fences, etc., as if exhausted. 

 They were numerous around Helena, Bozeraan, Deer Lodge, and other towns in that 

 portion of Montana Territory, the general course taken being southwest. 



The following observations, received from the same source, were 

 made at Benton : 



Large quantities of locusts devastated the country west of this place, but there 

 being no arable land nearer than Sun river, sixty miles distant, they were not so plenty 

 here, although large quantities were at this place during July and August. They 

 moved principally southwest and northwest. The wind was principally west, and the 

 swarms at Sun river large enough to darken the sky. I find no mention of them in the 

 journal except on July 27th and 28th, and that states that they did not seem to be trav- 

 eling in any particular direction. 



Wyoming. — Signal Service observations made at Cheyenne, show 

 that the young locusts were very numerous during the latter part of 

 May on bottom lands; and the observer records the following some- 

 what later in the season : 



August Gth. A number of locusts were seen moving south ; wind from north- 

 east, at p. M. 



August 8th. A great many locusts were observed at 2 p. m., moving from north- 

 west; apparently carried by the northwest wind, they moved to the southeast. 



August 23d. An immense swarm of these insects alighted from east to southeast^, 

 apparently compelled to by the brisk northwest wind. 



August 24th. Most of the locusts left to-day, moving west and northwest ; wind 

 being light to fresh from north to so-Jth. I noticed a lew, upon my return to the station,. 

 September 30, and October 1. 



I did not learn of any serious damage from these pests, owing, I suppose, to the 

 fact that agriculture is not carried on in our vicinity. 



A series of questions, as to the course of the insects, which I pub- 

 lished in the Daily JVeios of Laramie City, failed to bring me any 

 answers. 



Texas and Indian Territory. — The insects are reported as having 

 hatched in large numbers early in the Spring in Northern Texas and 

 Indian Territory; but while gardens were often ruined, little damage 

 was done to the growing grain. The Signal Service officer at Fort 

 Gibson, I. T., reports that — 



There were three distinct swarms seen about the first of May ; the exact date I am 

 unable to ascertain. They seemed to have had their origin from a deposit of eggs dur- 

 ing the preceding year, and left the neighborhood as soon as they were able to fly. The 

 first two lots moved toward the northeast, with the surface winds blowing from the 

 south ; the third swarm, on the contrary, moved towards the southwest, with a north- 

 east wind. 



They were leaving during most of the month of May, and gen- 

 erally north. A dispatch from Fort Gibson, dated June 1, says : 



Millions of locusts essayed their new wings on Sunday, rising like swarms of bees- 

 and started in a westerly direction. The air was filled like a cloud over the sun at ten 

 o'clock. The Grand, Verdigris and Arkansas rivers were covered with the dead hop- 

 pers that fiiiled to fly across at the start. We bid them adieu without a pang of regret- 



