PACKARD.] THE LOCUST IN COLORADO. 507 



circle iuto the upper Jiir and resume tbeir fli{;ht. They may tarry for scvc ral djiys, 

 their march dtpeutliug upou the weather and the sun'b warmth — the warmer the better 

 for them. 



The " canons of the mountains" (a very prevalent idea in the East) produce hut 

 veri) few grasshoppers — probably not 5 per cent.; the hijjjher canons none that e\er 

 leave them. 



I suppose that the swarms that devastated Nebraska and Kansas in 1R74 were na- 

 tives of the plains of the Upper Missouri branches, the Yellowstone, Powder River, 

 and the North Platte — that great plateau-land lying between the 131ack Hills and 

 Eocky Mountain chains in Montana and Northern Wyoming. 



The same flights overspread Eastern Colorado in 1874, destroyed the late ci'ops and 

 deposited their eggs. The latter hatched out in May and June (very irregularly), and 

 the young ate up the early crops, and one, two, and in some cases three subsequent 

 phintings. In July most of them took ilight, but frequent swarujs have ai)peared 

 since in various parts of the Territory, and they are now doing considerable} damage in 

 several counties. Their movements this year have been very erratic and entirely un- 

 certain. These vaiious flights— none of them very numerous — have been in various 

 directions, and there seems as yet little disposition to deposit eggs. I am t(dd that 

 most of them, are afflicted with parasites, and if so tliey will soon disappear. They 

 perished from that cause in 18()5. It would bo easy to learn exactly the nature and 

 habits of this plague, provided observers can ho secured all over this arid region. 

 They afflict some portion of it every year. The scourge only moves from place to 

 jdace. If Government can secure report, for instance, from every district in which they 

 hatch next spring, then trace the Ilight of the mo\ ing swarms during the summer and 

 fall, their habits can be accurately determined. It is a far more simple task than tho 

 operations of the Signal Service Bureau. 



If at any time I can serve you fun her, or if you desire more definite report this fall 

 cf the season's results, plealse let me know. 



Meantime, believe me, very truly, your obedient servant, 



WM. N. BYERS. 



A. S. PacivAKD, Jk., M. D., Salvm, Mass. 



Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo., Octoher 1, 1875. 



Dear Sir : In response to your postal card of August 30, I have but little more to 

 report resiJecting the grasshopper. I have studied them with some care here this fall, 

 and will give in brief the result. The tii\st llights came to this neighborhood in the lirst 

 week of August — not numerous — and most of them disappeared in three or four days. 

 lu the second week of August others came and in great numbers, and they have remained 

 ever since. I w;is absent tho latter half of August. In the tirst week of September 

 I was again here and found them pairing. Manj^ of the females were boring holes and 

 appeared to be depositing eggs, but on examination it was found that v-ery few actu- 

 ally were deposited. Tbe bottom of the hole generally contained a small quantity of 

 frothy, gelatinous matter, such as accompanies the eggs; but I think in only two in- 

 stances during that week did I find eggs, and then only six to ten. The next week, 

 however, brought on tho height of the season. Myriads were boring in the ground 

 everywhere, and from oue-hajf to two-thirds of the perforations were found to contain 

 from 15 to 30 eggs each, from one inch to two inches below tho surface. In many 

 lilaces the earth was perfectly honeycombed by their nests. At this time (the second 

 week in September) they had begun dying quite rapidly, and the living were feeding 

 largely upon the dead. As the season advances they subsist more and more upon the 

 dead and eat less vegetation. Now (October 1) they are eating the dead and dying 

 when not too tori)id to care about eating at all. 



I was again absent the last half of September, and have returned but two days ago. 

 There are still plenty of grasshoppers here, but most are dead. Occasionally a couple 

 are seen i)aired, but I have louml none <lepositing eggs. 



I learn that last year eggs were deposited in North Park and that they hatched 

 there in countless swaims the ])resent season. I presume our llights came iioni there. 

 At any rate we are certain of the young ones here next year. The altitude here is 

 7,7'25 feet above the sea. The west half of the park escaped them. Tbey extended luiC 

 live or six miles west of this ])oint; that is, the swarms that deposited eggs. The first 

 swarms (Ist to 5th of August) were more general, but did not stay. 



Abont Denver, and over a large portion of tho agricultural country iu that neighbor- 

 hood, the flying swarms were bud in the latter part of August, but most of thtiu 

 moved on. Only in a few and comparatively limited neighborhoods were many eggs 

 deposited. 



Of those that died here a few were killed by a parasite, developing a maggot which 

 eats out the body of the grasshopper ; but tho great majority perished from exhaustion 

 and cold — old age, perhaps. 

 Very truly, yours, 



WM. N. BYERS. 



A. S. Packard, Jr , M. D., Salem, Mass. 



