232 SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. IL 



The only injury was to the small twigs. Wheat-flelds were covered, but not 

 injiirod. 



Anhkew S. Fuller — In 1855 the locusts were very abundant in Illinois, 

 and came forth out of lieavy clay land, from more than four foot in depth, 

 in oak forests. They appeared tt) prefer the oak-trees. 



The Cliainnan stated that ho had observed their preference for oalc in some 

 instances, but upon the whole, he thought they had very little care for any 

 particular sort of tsees. 



Dr. TuiMiJLE thought the chestnut was their favorite. I found, yesterday, 

 the eggs of the locust arc beginning to hatch, and the young insect is as 

 perfect in shape as tlie old ones, of a pure white color, and no larger than 

 one of the eggs. 



Ilahits of Grasshoppers. — A Goliad correspondent of the Colorado (Texas) 

 Citizen gives some curious facts in relation to the grasshoppers which have 

 recently swarmed in that region. He says : 



" Tliey have an especial fondness for wheat and cotton, but don't take so 

 kindly to corn. The only vegetable they sjiarc is the pumpkin. The most 

 deadly poisons have had no effect upon them ; fumes of sulphur they rather 

 like than otherwise ; niusketo-nets they devour greedily ; clothes hung out 

 to dry they esteem a rarity ; blankets and gunny-bags they don't appear to 

 fancy. They swim the broadest creeks in safety, sun themselves a while, 

 and then go on. The whole mass appear to start and move at the same 

 time, traveling for an hour or two, devouring everything in their way, and 

 then suddenly cease, not moving perhaps for a week, during which time no 

 feeding is noticed ; and finally, they carefully avoid the sea-coast." 



Grasshopper Parasites. — Solon IJobinson — I have a letter from L. B. 

 Rice, Middlebury, Vt., inclosing specimens of grasshoppers, showing a para- 

 site that is preying upon them, which, it is to be hoped, will help to annihilate 

 this pest. This parasite is a small red insect, which attaches itself to the 

 grasshopper just under the wing. 



255. ('anker-Worm Preventives!— The following letter to the author, from a 

 New York city friend, is worthy of attention by all whose trees are eaten by 

 worms : 



" SiE : Your recent discussions upon the canker-worm, which is so seriously 

 devastating the foliage of the city, stir me up to lay before your readers the 

 information which some years of careful observation have enabled me to 

 gain respecting this pest of our neighborhood. I do this the more because I 

 notice some suggestions in your conversations which look to tiie adoption 

 of remedies ; and before any remedy is tried, it is essential that we have 

 some assurance that it will be effectual. 



" I was a student in New Haven at the time when the ravages of the in- 

 sect were so severe in that city, and witnessed the extreme desolation which 

 the creature produced. The magnificent elms which are the glory of tiiat 

 beautiful city, stood bare and wintry at the end of June, with every vestige 

 of their foliage utterly consumed. I noticed, and have since repeatedly ob- 



