PACKARD.J THE LOCUST IN MONTANA IN 1876. 623 



grain and corn wore out of the way, the latter being too dry for them to eat. They 

 deposited a large amount of eggs in 1866, which done much damage in the spring of 

 1867. Now, the only difference in their visitations in '64, '65, and '66, between that of 

 '74, '75, and '76, is this : In 74 they came thirty-five days sooner than in '64 ; in '75 they 

 came ten or twelve days later than in '65 ; in '76 they came forty-two days earlier than 

 in '66. From '67 to '74 we had but little losses from them. A light band occasionally 

 done a little harm. 



Their movements in all respects in '64, '65, and '66 have been precisely duplicated in 

 '74, '75, and '76, aud from this I conclude we will have six or seven years' rest now. 

 Could we be informed definitely of where their eggs are deposited north of us, wo 

 would know just what to do to escape losses. Those south and west we need nave 

 no fears of. This dreadful plague must bo stopped. Already it has prevented many 

 from immigrating to the great and fertile West, and those here are looking and wonder- 

 ing where they can go to escape this plague, and if it was not for that adhesive power 

 that holds people to their adopted homes, Colorado would soon be left to the grass- 

 hopper and red man. 



The following notes are taken from the Monthly Weather Eeview 

 of the Weather Signal Bureau, 187G : February 19, locusts hatched 

 out at Golden ; Estes Park, March 3. At Golden, eggs laid August 24, 

 1875, hatched out April 21, 1870. In June, in Colorado, were frequently 

 attacked by the red mite. July 11, " a storm of grasshoppers at Pike's 

 Peak." August 2, at Denver, " came from north in great numbers ; very 

 destructive 3d ; continued numerous until 11th ; had all left by 13th ; 

 from 22d to 28th flying in the air, but few alighting ; diminished in num- 

 ber 29th to 31st ; 3d, passed over Pueblo, going north ; no damage. 5th, 

 Golden, flying southeast about 6th to 13th, leaving 13th to 26fch, return- 

 ing from northwest 23(1, and flying northwest 24th and 25th ; 12th, near 

 Denver, made a clean sweep of the mountain-ranches ; came in dense, 

 thick clouds, but have mostly moved away. 31st, Fort Garland, air 

 filled, flying with the wind. September 8, at Fort Garland, they were 

 seen flying northeast. At Golden, flying east-southeast 2d and 4th j fly- 

 ing northwest 6th; flying west and northwest loth ; flying east-south- 

 east 23d ; flying northwest 25th. Denver, more or less abundant, 1st to 

 24th. Flying northeast at Golden 2d. Summit of mountains near Denver 

 covered with many thousand bushels of dead grasshoppers. 



THE LOCUST IN WYOMING, UTAH, AND NEW MEXICO IN 1876. 



In Wyoming, at Cheyenne, grasshoppers were reported alive May 14 j 

 abundant from the 7th to the 31st August ; " flying southeast 1st, 10th, 

 24th; south, 6th J northwest, 8th. October 3d, a few grasshoppers were 

 seen flying." 



In Utah, September 28, at Salt Lake City, migrating ; at Coalville, 

 Utah, flying south 26th, 27th, 28th. 



In New Mexico " they ai)peared June 19 " (Monthly Weather Report) ; 

 Taos, wheat half destroyed by grasshopper (Agricultural Eeport, July). 



THE LOCUST IN MONTANA IN 1876. 



Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, U. S. A., in a letter dated Camp Robinson, 

 Nebraska, December 10, 1876, gives me the following notes and com- 

 ments on the locust : 



Upon the high plateau separating the valley of the Platte from the waters-shed of 

 the Lower Yellowstone, swarms of newly-hatched grasshoppers were observed during 

 the last of May, 1876. They appeared to exist in email colonies of a few square rods in 

 extent. Several such were seen during the day, aud the aggregate number of individ- 

 uals mnst have been very large. They were just able to hop, and wore consequently 

 hatched on the ground where they were observed. About July 12, immense swarms 

 appeared in Western Nebraska and devastated that region. These insects I believe to 

 be the same observed in May, which upon reaching maturity moved eastward, instead 



