692 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



the gulls were seen feeding on tbis insect as well as winged grasshop- 

 pers. Mr. Henry P^lwards, under date of December 25, 1875, writes me 

 a.s follows regarding the cricket : " I send you two s]iecimens of the large 

 brown cricket from Idaho. I think it is Anahrus simplex of Haldeman. 

 It is extremely destructive to the crops of wheat and other cereals from 

 Oregon to Wyoming Territory, and eastward to Montana, Idaho, and 

 Utah. I do not think it has ever been found in California. When I 

 was in Oregon two years ago, I made some few notes about this pest, 

 and, if I can find them, will willingly place them at your disposal." 

 Maj. J. W. Powell tells me that the cricket is annoying in Arizona. 



I e.xtriict the following remarks on the geographical range and habits 

 of the species of Anahrwi from Professor Thomas's report in Hayden's 

 Eeport on the Geology of Montana for 1871 : 



Anahnis purpnrascens is found, not abundantly, but at certain elevated points from 

 Northern New Mexico to Moritana, along the east base of the mountains, but I have 

 met with uo specimen west of the range in the middle district, though Mr. Uhler gives 

 Washington Territory as a locality on the authority of Dr. Suckley. It is also found 

 as far south as Texas, and as far north as Red River, in Northern Minnesota. A. simplex 

 appears to be confined to the middle district, as I have not met either in the eastern or 

 ■western districts. Dr. Scudder, who examined the Orthoptera, collected by Professor 

 Hayden, in Nebraska, does not mention it in his list; nor did Mr. C. R. Dodge have it 

 among bis collections made iu Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Indian Territory; nor 

 is it among the collections in the Agricultural Department, made east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. Hence I think we may safely conclude that it is confined to the west side of 

 the range. But what it lacks iu range is made up in numbeis, for in the northern part , 

 of Salt Lake Basin and southern part of Idaho, the only points where I have met with 

 it, it is to be seen iu armies of myriads, (p. 431.) Found in great abundance between 

 Brigham City, Utah, and l"'ort Hall, Idaho; also, occasionally met with farther south, 

 in Utah, aud north of Fort Hall, to the boundary-line of Montana, Avhichis here along 

 the range separatiug the waters of the Atlantic from the Pacific. At some points we 

 found them so abundant as literally to cover the ground. In two or three instances 

 they all appeared to be moving in one direction, as if impelled by some common motive. 

 I recollect one instance, on Port Neuf River, where an army was crossing the road. It 

 was probably as much as 200 yards in width. I could form no idea as to its length. 

 I only know that as far as I could distinguish objects of this size (being horseback) 

 I could see them marching on. I think that in all the cases where I saw them thus 

 moving, it was toward a stream of water. They appear to be very fond of gathering 

 along the banks and iu the vicinity of streams. In the north part of Cache Valley 

 I frequently noticed the ditches and little streams covered with these insects, which, 

 having fallen in, were floating down on the surface of the water, and, though watch- 

 ing them for hours, they would liowou iu an undiminished stream. 



While encamped on a litte creek near Franklin, iu this valley, it was with difficulty 

 ■we could keep them out of our bedding ; and when we ■went to breakfast, we found 

 the under side and legs of the table and stools covered with them, all the vigilance of 

 the cook being required to keep them out of the victuals. 



But the strangest part of its history is that it will go in pursuit of and catch and 

 eat the Cicada. This latter insect also made its appearance in this valley the past sea- 

 sou iu immense numbers, covering the grass aud sage and other bushes, especially 

 thosrt which formed a fringe along the little streams. Up these the Anahrus would cau- 

 tiously climb, reach out with its fore leg and plant its claw in its victim's wing ; once 

 the fatal claw secured a hold, the Cicada was doomed, for without ceremony it was at 

 once sacrificed to the voracious appetite of its captor. No uuiforniity appeared to be 

 preserved iu this process ; sometimes they would commence with the thorax, at others 

 with the head, not even taking the trouble to remove the legs aud wings. 



I noticed iu the road, where one of the armies was crossing, a number of large hawks 

 feasting themselves upon the helpless victims. As I returned through Malade Valley 

 (August 20, 1871,) the females were depositing their eggs. They press the ovipositor 

 perpendicularly into the ground almost its eutire length. 



The following notes on Anahrus simplex have been obligingly prepared 

 for this report by Mr. Henry Edwards, of San Francisco : 



I know little of this species from my own personal observation. It was extremely 

 abundant during a visit to Oregon some four years ago. I extract the following from 

 my note-book : "The large brown cricket (JHaftrHs simplex) \& a, great trouble to the 

 farmers of this region, (the Dalles,) aud this year has been unusually common. It ap- 

 pears that they march to attack the corn fields in columns, and the ouly way left to the 



