G08 EEPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Geological Survey, I bare received from Mr. Sanford Flemioj;, engineer- 

 iii-cbief of the Cauadiaii Pacific Iwiilway, a coi)y of a ''Map of the 

 couiitiy to be traversed by the Canadian Pacific Railway to accompany 

 progress-report on the exploratory surveys, 187G; Sanford Flenjing, 

 engineer-in chief " On this map the " southern limits of the true forests" 

 are laid down* on a line running in a general northwest direction from 

 a little to the eastward of Fort Ellice, in about latitude 54'^ 30', longi- 

 tude 110° 10'. This line is indicated on the map showing the distribu- 

 tion of the red-legged locust {G. femvr rubrnm). " The northern limit of 

 true prairie-laud" is also copied on the same map from Mr. Fleming's 

 ujap. It lunsfrom Turtle Mountain on the forty-ninth parallel, a little 

 east of south of Fort Ellice, and runs in a general parallel course to the 

 limit of forests, and ends at the Bear Dills, just south of the filty second 

 parallel of latitude and in longitude 108°. Piofessor Dawson writes me 

 that "no map yet shows even ap[)roximately the area of the Pever 

 liiver Prairies, but these are separated by forests from those to the south, 

 and are never invaded by C. upretiis.'''' This is most important and sat- 

 islactory inlormation, and confirms Professor Dawson's statement as 

 to the northeastern limits of the lowest area, which are herein already 

 quoted. It would seem doubtful whether the Kocky Mountain locusn 

 breeds abundantly north of the Little Slave Lake. The data afforded by 

 this map also confirm me in my indications of the western limits of the 

 prairie region and temporary and periodical breeding-places of the Rocky 

 IMountain locust, which piobably follows approximately the meridian of 

 102°, pursuing a sinuous course indicated by a range of hills put down 

 on the United States maps, from which Mr. BecMer has compiled thei 

 maps accompanying this report. The barien plains extend just nortn 

 of the forty-ninth parallel as far east as longitude 104°, and this may be 

 the southeastern Imiits of the permanent breeding-places of the locust 

 north of the forty-ninth i)arallel. 



That the return swarms from Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska may 

 reach British America is suggested bv Mr. AHeu Whitman in his report 

 for 187G : 



Whether or not it is .a general rule tliat the locusts on a,cquiring wings seek the di- 

 rection from which their parents bad come in the preceding year (a rule which the 

 experience of Minnesota fails to substantiate), it is certain at least that in l^i75 " the 

 main direciion taken by the insects that rose from the Lower Missouri Valley country 

 was northwesterly." (Riley's Eighth Annual Report, p. 105.) These swarms were 

 1lac^d by Professor Riley, moving northerly from the end of May through June and 

 into. July, and passing various ))oints in Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. t 



They j)assed northv.ard over Bismarck at various tiuies between June (i and July 1.5. 

 (Same repurt, p. 86.) But a still more definite statement as to the iinal destination of 

 these northward-moving swarms is found in an editorial of the Winnipeg Stand, of 

 August 11), 1H76, entitled ''Locust flights." It is there stated that in 1875, "the lo- 

 custs which hatched in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, in an area of 250 niiles from 

 east to west, and 300 miles from north to south, took llight in .Tone, and invariably 

 went northwest, and fell in innumerable swarms upon the regions of British America, 

 adjoining Forts PeJly, Carlton, and Ellice, covering an area as large as that they va- 

 cated on .the Missouri River. They were re-enforced by the retiring column from Man- 

 itoba, and it seemed to bo hoping against hope that the new swarms of 1876 would not 

 again descend upon the settlements in the Red River Valley. Intelligence was received 



* Professor Dawson informs me that this is taken froni Palliser's Map, published as 

 a blue-l)ook by the British government, forming a part of the report ou explorations in 

 British North America. 



t lie adds (page 108) : " Nor can I learn of any Instance where these swarms that 

 leit our Territory deposited eggs." The different case of our own breed of locusts, lay- 

 ing eggs within two weeks alter Hying commences, is remarko.ble. But I am informed 

 l)y Ciipt. J. S. Poland, conmianding at Standing Rock, that a swarm from the south 

 alighted near that post .July 4, 1875, and deposited considerable quantities of eggs be- 

 tween the 4. hand tho l8th'of July. 



