PACKARD.] NORTHERN RANGE OF THE LOCUST. 607 



Many of the grasshoppers observed, according to reports received by Mr. Riley, in 

 DaUotii, at Fort Thompson, Yauk*^on, Fort Snlly, S])ringfiehl, Fort Randall, and liis- 

 niarc'k Hying uorlhward and northwestward at various dates in June and Jnly, no 

 doiiiit eventually found their way north of the forty-ninth parallel. Those seen at 

 Bistiiavck obont June (i and 7 probably belonged to tlie oarlie.>st southern bands abovo 

 referred to, siud, judging from the dates given by Mr. Riley ,'niay have been produced 

 in Nebraska, or more probably even still tarther south. A portion of the southern and 

 easTt rn army probably reached Mon^^aim, and may even have penetrated in dimiu- 

 isiied numbers into the dist.ricts in the vicinity of Bow River. 



A considerable number of locusts appear to have hatched at about the same date as 

 in Manitol).a near the extreme western margin of the plains, especially in the country 

 near Bow River. Foreig i swarms airived at Fort McLeod from the southwest, depos- 

 it iog eggs; nnd most of those hatching near Bow River, and farther north, seem to 

 have gone southeastward early in August. No very deiinite or wide-spread movement 

 ot swarms ajtpears, however, to have occurred during the siimTner of 1875 in this 

 legion, nor, if we may judge from the very meager accounts received, in the corre- 

 sponding portion of Montana. 



Duri; g the summer of 1875, the conditions described in the Notes for 1874 as occur- 

 ring ill the region west of the one hundred and third meridian were reproduced iu 

 Manitoba, and over a great area of the Western and Southwestern States, with results 

 even more disastrous to the crops than thost; of the winged invasion of the previous 

 year. We do not hear of any access of fresh swarms to Manitoba from the west or 

 iiorthwest, nor is it probable that any such occurred, notwithstanding the fact that iu 

 various parts of the province flights are reported to have passed over Irom northwest 

 to southeast. From the dates and descriptions given, it seems certain that these were 

 t)nly those from the more remote parts of the province itsidf, and iu many cases the 

 broods hatched iu any locality mingled with those coming from a little distance, and 

 departed at the same time. 



The most remarkable and exceptional feature in connection with the appearance of 

 the locusts in 1875 is the extensive invasion of the wooded region east of Manitoba by 

 the swaruis produced in the province. This is the more noticeable when contrasted 

 with the immunity enjoyed by Prince Albert on the Saskatchewan, alluded to iu 

 last year's Notes, which is owing to its separation from the general area of the 

 plains by a belt of timber. On writing to Mr. Clarke, of Carletou House, on the 

 sul.jecr, he informs me that this protectiug belt of tir-tiniber is only four miles 

 in width, and extends coni])letely 'acro.ss between the north and south branches of the 

 Sa.skatcliewan. Judging irom the above I'emarkable fact, and the known habits of the 

 locust, I do not think that the incursion made into the forest-country can be looked 

 njiou as anything but exceptional, and perliaps showing that the locusts had lost their 

 reckoning. Nor do I believe that it sdould discourage the cultivation of belts ofwood- 

 laiid, which promises to effect iu time a general and permanent amelioration of the 

 gi a.sshopper plague. 



Broadly sketched, the movements of the locusts in 1875 conform to a general plan. 

 All thi se hatching in Minnesota, Manitoba, Northern Dakota, and in the high western 

 region of the plains, at least as I'ar south as Colorado, ou obtaining their wings, went 

 southward, and this in some instances regardless of the direction from which their 

 parents had arrived in the previous year. Swarms produced iu Nebraska, Missouri, 

 Kansas, Texas, and Indian Tenitory flew northward and northwestward, returning on 

 the course of their parents, which had flowu southeastward from that (luarter. This 

 movement can be traced over an immense area, from the northern borders of Texas 

 almost to the Saskatchewan River. 



Evidence appears to be fast accumnlatingto show that the general and normal direc- 

 tion of flight for any brood is to return toward the hatching-grounds from which their 

 jnirents came, and it would f^e< ni that to complete the migration-cycle of the locust two 

 years are required. The tendency which the swarms show to migrate on reaching 

 maturity cannot be wondered at, as it is so commonly met with in other animals, and 

 may be assisted by the mere lack of food in the district which has for a long time sup- 

 ]iorted the young locusts. The fact, however — let m call it instinct or knowledge — that 

 tln^ young, while amenable to the migratory tendency, show adeteimination to exercise 

 it iu a direction exactly the opposite of the preceding geneiation is iijost reniaikable 



Professor Dawson writes me that, "duriug the summer of 187G, the 

 grasshopper was scarcely seen in Manitoba, and a line crop was har- 

 vested all over the i)rovince. Manitoba is safe lor next snninier, unless 

 invaded. I have reason to believe, however, that durino; last snnimer 

 tlie locust was very abundant in the far West, on the plains east of the 

 l.'ocky Mountains, and north of the forty-ninth parallel. With regard 

 to this region, however, I have only general information." 



Through the kind suggestion of Prof. G. M. Dawson, of the Canadian 



