LOCUSTS. 49 



As I liave not a type collection for reference, it was impossible for 

 me to identify the specimens trustworthily, and I therefore forwarded 

 them to Senor Don Ignacio Bolivar, Professor of Entomology in the 

 University of Madrid, well known for his long and also widely extended 

 observations on the Orthoptera, who was good enough to identify 

 them for me as the Acridium cBgi/ptium,'^' L., and to write as follows 

 regarding them : — 



" Nos. 1 and 2 certainly correspond to the Acridium (eyyiMum, L. 

 They may easily have been imported into England with field produce 

 from the whole of Southern Europe, where the species is common. In 

 the neighbourhood of Madrid this kind may be found in fully developed 

 condition during nearly the whole year. It does not cause ravage, as 

 it is not found in great numbers, but always as isolated specimens, and 

 scattered at considerable distances." — J. B. (Trans. E. A. 0.) 



Besides the above specimens, which arrived in living condition, I 

 received, on the 3rd of February, a packet of large dead Locusts, which 

 proved on investigation to be the Acridium. paranense, of Burmeister, 

 and which were then being sent over from Buenos Ayres, in fodder, in 

 such numbers as to cause enquiry whether the great quantity might 

 prove injurious to cattle or stock consuming the Locusts with their 

 food. 



On this point the following communication was sent me on the 

 2nd of February, by Messrs. Porter & Wilson, from Jamaica Street, 

 Liverpool : — " I beg to hand you sample of insects taken from Alfalfa 

 grass or hay, which is being landed at this port from Buenos Ayres. 

 In two samples I have examined, the quantity averages about one 

 insect to each pound of hay. The specimens are not quite perfect ; 

 they have some long legs, which got broken off through being entangled 

 amongst the leaves of the herbage, which is very full towards the top, 

 something like the Vetches of our country. I shall esteem it a great 

 favour if you will kindly tell me the name of the insect, and if it is 

 injurious to horses or cattle." 



It may be just noted in passing, that "Alfalfa" is the Spanish 

 word for Lucerne. "With regard to possible damage, as a presence of 

 infestation at the above-named proportion would be calculable as at 



* Synonyms of Acridium cegyptium, L. : — 



" Gryllus (Locusta) cegyptius, Linneo. Mus. L. Ulr. paglna 138 (1764). 

 " G. cristatus, Asso., 1784. Introduct. in Or. et Zool. Arag., page 111. 

 " G. lineola, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. 11, p. 54. 

 "Acridium lineola, Serville, Hist. Nat. des Orth., p. 656. 



"A. tartaricum, Serville, id., pag. 657 nota. Fischer, Fr. Orth. Eur., p. 388 

 t. XV., fig. 27, 27 a. 



"A. mgyptium, Staal, Eecens., la part, p. 63." 

 See page 88 of the work above quoted. 



