122 InrJian MnsP7i.m Nofes, [Vol" TI. 



THE METHODS ADOPTED IN TUNIS FOR DESTROYING 



LOCUSTS. 



{Reprinted from No. 209 of the Mifsceltaneoni; Series, 1891, of Her 

 Ilajestfs Foreign Office in London.) 



IN.B. — The followiug correspondence on the metliods adopte I in Tunis for the De- 

 struction of the locust Acridium peregrinum is of particulnr interest in India, as Acridium 

 peregrinum is the species which has been so destructive during the past few years in Sind, 

 Rnjputana and the Punjab. — Ed.] 



Consult- General R. Drummojid-IL'^ to the Marquis of Salishnry. 



Mj Lord, 



\^'ith reference to Your Lordsliip's Despatch of 2nd June, I have the 

 honour to enclose a Report on the Methods adopted in Tunis for Destroy- 

 ing Locusts during the CampaigQ of this year. 



I have, &c. 



(Sd.) B. DRUMMOND-HAY. 



Tunis, July 27th, 1891. 



Report hy Mr. Drummond-Hay on the Methods adopted in Tiinisfor 

 Destroying Locusts during the Campaign of 1891. 



The locusts made their first appearance in the regency early in Feh- 

 First appearance of flying ruary of this year, flying from the south in a 

 ^°''^^^^- northerly direction. 



The oasis of Tozeur, renowned for its groves of date palms, was the 

 first spot to be invaded, and, by the end of March, the sw^arrns had peiu- 

 1 rated far into the interior, attacking the provinces of Gabes, Gafsa, and 

 Sfax. In the month of April they reached the agricultural districts in 

 the vicinity of Susa. Here they settled in enormous quantities and de- 

 posited their eggs, about April 13th, amongst the olive plantations where 

 the ground was particularly favourable for the purpose. 



They flitted again on April 18th, and wended their way across the large 

 cultivated plains of the Enfida to Kairwan and thence on to the wooded 

 and rocky hills of Zaghouan, where the largest q^^ deposits took place. 



During the month of May the rich plains north of Zaghouan and 

 the environs of Tunis and l^izerta were invaded in their turns by large 

 flights, which have left their marks throughout those districts by consi- 

 derable deposits of eggs. 



