FLIGHT AT NIGHT. 147 



As bearing upon the point now under consideration we quote the fol- 

 lowing from Mr. Byer's letter elsewhere mentioned: 



Along toward noon, on bright warm days, they rise by circular flights, each seeming 

 to act individually, to a considerable height, and then all sail away, with tolerable 

 regularity, in one general direction. If there is no wind many of them continue whirl- 

 ing about in the air, like bees swarming, but away beyond, myriads can be seen mov- 

 ing across the sun toward the southwest, looking like snow-flakes. If there is a change 

 in the atmosjihere, such as the approach of a, thunder-storm or gale of wind, they 

 come down precipitately, seeming to fold their wings and fall by the force of gravity, 

 thousands being killed by the fall if it is on stone or other hard surface. If not inter- 

 riiptcd by such causes they descend during the afternoon. 



It is proper to call attention here to the fact that Mr. Byers is speak- 

 ing of the phenomena of their flights close to and imaiediately east of 

 the Eocky Mountains, where there is often an upper current of air mov- 

 ing eastward or southeast, while the atmosphere near the surface of the 

 ground, protected by the mountain-wall, may be comparatively undis- 

 turbed — a condition not found on the plains, where the mode of rising 

 is usually different from that here described. 



Each Commissioner has had the pleasure of witnessing, in the mount- 

 ain region, this habit of the locusts, of circling upward behind some 

 shielding ridge, apparently for the purpose of ascertaining the condition 

 or direction of the upper current, and suddenly dropping when it proved 

 from some cause unfavorable. 



Flights during the night. — We have received but few reports bearing 

 on this point; in fact, it is not likely that flights, under any circum- 

 stances, could be seen at night. Still, there are good reasons for believ- 

 ing that these are by no means uncommon. 



On one occasion. Professor Aughey, while traveling at night, near 

 midnight encountered a sudden change of wind, and, at the same time, 

 hosts of falling locusts. We have also received an account of a well- 

 attested case of a swarm coming down at eleven o'clock in the night 

 at a station in Nebraska a little west of Crete. A large number of in- 

 stances have been reported where swarms were observed flying late in 

 the evening, which, so far as could be ascertained by diligent inquiry, did 

 not come down in the vicinity of the place where last seen. There are 

 also reports of numerous cases where they were observed on the ground 

 early in the morning, yet none were seen the day before. In addition 

 to this strong testimony on the point, there are other facts in reference 

 to their movements which cannot be explained on any other supposi- 

 tion. 



We are satisfied, therefore, from all the facts we have been able to 

 gather bearing upon this point, notwithstanding the very general opin- 

 ion of the people in the locust-area to the contrary, that flights at night 

 are by no means uncommon. This, in connection with the fact that 

 they can and probably do often fly at such an elevation as to be 

 invisible, will fully account for their repeated mysterious appearance 

 when it is impossible to hear anything of them along the line they come. 



