398 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



drawings are herewith given. The description refers to corresponding 

 parts, and illustrates the mechanism and operation. (Fig. 104.) 



A is a carrying- wheel, of which there are two, one being mounted upon each cecI of 

 an axle, a. A frame-work consisting of two arc s, B, connected by a girt, 6, and carry- 

 ing a driver's seat, B', extends rearward from the Lxle a. The arms B are of such 

 length and are placed at such distance apart that a horse can work between them and 

 can propel the machine over the ground, being attached to a whiffletree which is pivoted 

 to the gilt h, C is a guiding or steering wheel, the shank C^ of which is pivoted or 

 jourualed in girt b and provided with a hau«! -lever, C^ arranged within convenient 

 reach of the c.river while riding in seat B'. At each end of the axle a there is a depend- 

 ing hanger, D^, to which there is piv^ ted, at c^ a vibrating arm, D, these two arms D D 

 being connected by horizontal gir s d and d}. Immediately above the arms D there 

 are two stationary arms, D^, also connected by a horizontal girt, d^. The arms D^, 

 girt d^, and the axle a form a rectangular frame, over which is stretched a cover, E, 

 the space between the arms D D^ at each end of the trap being filled with a suitable 

 flxible material, E^. To the lower arms D and girts d d^ is also attached a flexible 

 covering, which hangs down loosely in rear of girt d^ between that girt and the axle 

 a, forming a bag or pouch, as indicated at E^. This last-described part of the trap, 

 consisting of the arms D D^, their connecting-girts, and the covering E E^ E"^, I usually 

 denominate the cage. A cord, F, is connected with girt d or d', and passes over or 

 through standard/ and rearward to within reach of the driver. A revolving brush, G, 

 is mounted in supporting-bars I. (Shown iu dotted lines.) A belt, H, passes around 

 a grooved wheel. A', on ore of the carrying-wheels A, and a corresponding pulley, G', 

 on the shaft of the brush G, thus causing the brush to rotate rapidly as the device 

 moves forward over the ground and sweeps the grasshoppers or other insects into the 

 cage. 



By means of the cord F the height of the front part or edge of the apron or of the 

 girt d from the grass or the grain or the ground may be indicated, and by a sudden 

 upward jerk unon this ccrd any accumulation of grasshoppers on the apron between 

 girts d d^ may be readily delivered into the pouch or bag E^. 



When the device is made of suitable size it may be propelled by hand instead of 

 horse-power. 



The '^ Hero 'Hopper-catcher'' constructed by John Carlen, Bernadotte, 

 Nicollet County, Minnesota, is a simple bag with fan attachment, work- 

 ing somewhat on the same principle as the above. 



Most of these patent contrivances are open to the objection of extra 

 cost and complication without extra efficiency, and the simpler devices 

 will always retain their deservedly greater popularity. 



Mr. J. S. Belt, of the firm of Perkins & Belt, Saint Paul, Minn., con- 

 structed a simple sheet iron pan, intended to hold the locusts without 

 the aid of coal-tar. The machine consists of a sheet-iron platform with 

 a front sweep of 8 feet, the back of which is elevated 7 inches and the 

 front 1| inches, in the shape of a runner. Over the platform is a con- 

 trivance that holds the locusts that hop upon the machine, and an effect- 

 ive cover prevents any from hopping over the grate. The imple- 

 ment is easily pulled by ropes, and, with a 3-foot wing on each side, 

 it sweeps over 14 feet of fi^:ld. Its capacity is three bushels, and it can 

 be emptied in ten seconds. 



The following letter from Mr. Pennock Pusey, private secretary to 

 Governor Pillsbury, expresses the opinion of those fully competent to 

 judge of its value: 



" This will be handed you by Mr. J. E. Belt, who will exhibit a 

 locust-machine, which strikes the governor and myself as the best 

 thing yet invented. It is on the same simple principle as that of the 

 sheet-iron and tar dozer, but dispenses wholly with the tar, and thus 

 saves cost and delay. It was tested yesterday by Mr. Raney, of Le 



