CIRCULARS SENT OUT. 5 



and usefulness of sucli machines or other mechanical contrivances as have been tried 

 and used in your section. Where any machine has proved useful I desire to obtain 

 full plans and description of the same, and, where possible, illustrations. Where such 

 have not already been drawn up or made, I will co-operate with inventors in getting 

 the work done where it is thought desirable. So far as time will permit, I shall en- 

 deavor to personally examine and test such contrivances, and will assist to a full trial 

 of them any inventor who communicates his plans. 



Copies of documents published by the Commission will be sent to correspondents who 

 forward data in accordance with these requests. 

 I have the honor to be, yours, respectfnlly, 



CHAS. V. RILEY. 



Some additional questions were sent out with Circular No. 1 by Mr. 

 Thomas, and among them the following : 



Furnish copies of all the records you can obtain, which were made at the time of the 

 visitations of the grasshoppers, whether written or printed. 



State all you may know in reference to eggs hatching in the fall. 



What plants, cultivated or wild, appear to be preferred by the young, and what by 

 the full-grown insects ? 



What plants, cultivated or wild, appear to be least relished ? 



State to what extent the invading swarms have been observed to injure the native 

 grasses, and to what extent the young have been observed to injure them. 



What, animals, such as quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles, have been observed feeding 

 upon the young or full-grown insects or their eggs ? 



State what measures for destroying the eggs have been tried, and how far they have 

 j)roved effectual. 



State tbe ratio of prairie to timber in your section. 



State all you know in reference to the habits of the young or grown insects during 

 the night ; where they remain, whether they ever march, continue to fly, eat, &c. 



At what rate do swarms move during flight ? 



Mr. Packard also issued a special circular, requesting, in addition to 

 the information sought by Circular Ko. 1, special information west of the 

 mountains, as follows : 



CIRCULAR No. 3. 



Salem, Mass., May 15, 1877. 



Dear Sir: In behalf of the United States Entomological Commission I ask your aid 

 in studying the habits, distribution, and extent of damage done, in past years as well 

 as the present, by the locust or destructive grasshopper, in the department of the locust- 

 area assigned to me,i. e., Montana, Idaho, Western Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Washing- 

 ton Territory, and California. 



The main breeding-places of the locusts visiting the border States are situated in the 

 Northwest. Information is especially desired concerning the breeding of locusts in the 

 plains lying around the Black Hills, especially to the east and north ; also in the val- 

 leys of the Platte, Yellowstone, Upper Missouri, Snake, and Columbia Rivers, and 

 especially the treeless plains of Eastern Oregon and the eastern portion of Washing- 

 ton Territory. The locusts invading Utah in former years are supposed to have come 

 from the Snake Valley to the northwest and north. 



The said Territories, particularly Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Eastern Washing- 

 ton and Oregon, are so thinly settled that it will be difiScult for me to obtain the post- 

 ofifice address of those who might be willing to co-operate with the Commission if they 

 could receive our circulars and bulletins. These and other publications of the Com- 

 mission will be sent to those answering in part or wholly the questions appended to 

 this circular. Postmasters and others receiving this circular are respectfully requested 



