[118] REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



found only a few places on bare liill-sides where there were about fifty eggs to a square 

 foot ; most on second terrace and the bluffs ; very few eggs here seemed to be spoiled ; 

 camped near section corner between 10, 11, 14, and 15, township 1 north, range 32 

 west ; few locust eggs here ; mean temperature 48"^ Fahrenheit. 



Camp, Hitchcoclt County, March 31, 1877. — This morning hunted an hour before find- 

 ing any locust-eggs. Found a few on the hills of an old, abandoned; prairie-dog town 

 not more than from 30 to 60 to a square foot. 



Camp, Hitclicock County, April 1, 1877. — Camp about thirty miles west of Culbertson. 

 Sandy, and intensely cold. Found a few locust-eggs in the cave where we were 

 camped in the sand, about 30 to a square foot. None around this point elsewhere. 

 After breakfast weather began to moderate ; walked south for three miles. Found no 

 locust-eggs, though I examined the ground in the most favorable spots for them. 



At 2 p. m., temperature had risen to 25° above zero F. Started up the valley. Half 

 an hour before sundown found a good camping-ground about two miles above the 

 forks of the Republican, on South Fork. Here in the bluffs found a few locust-eggs — 

 about 30 to a square foot. 



Camp, Dundy County, two miles west of forks, April 2, 1877. — Wind from the south ; 

 cold and blowing hard. Along the southwest slopes of the bluffs along this creek 

 found a few locust-eggs near the Kansas line — about 60 to a square foot. We were 

 much chilled by this ride. 



After our return, and dinner over, we crossed the South Fork of the Republican and 

 across the peninsula between the two rivers. On top of this, about half-way between 

 the rivers, found a few locust-eggs — ^not more than about 60 to a square foot. Went 

 up the North Fork after it was reached, about eight miles. Camped in a cave. Found 

 no eggs of locusts along the river. Mean temperature this day, 45° F. 



Ten miles above forks of Bejnthlican, Dundy County, April 3, 1877. — Going up the river 

 and examining the ground in many places ; found locust-eggs only in one spot, on a 

 second terrace — about 30 to a square yard. Reached the Arickaree River, which flows 

 into the Republican from the southwest. Took dinner here. 



From some young men here engaged in herding cattle, learned that there were few 

 locust-eggs laid in this section. About a mile above this, on high land, at the foot of 

 bluffs, found a nest of eggs containing 30 eggs. 



Reached the Colorado line about four p. m., and at six, about four miles farther, 

 camped. Mean temperature 46^° F. 



On Eepuhlican, fout miles beyond the Nebraska line, in Colorado, April 4, 1877. — Traveled 

 this day to head of the Republican, where it rises in a shallow basin ; went above this 

 on to the Colorado plainj then returned and camped at an old burnt-down sod house. 

 Found no locust-eggs this day, though I looked diligently. Found the head of the 

 river by barometer to be 4,050 feet above the sea-level. 



Fiepiiblican, fifteen miles west of Nebraska line, April 5, 1877.— Came down the valley some 

 15 miles to-day, but found no locust-eggs, but in a few places on high, sandy terraces a 

 few newly-hatched locusts ; mean temperature, 48° F. 



April 6, 1877. — Spent most of this day in boring, but examined the soil carefully for 

 locust-eggs ; found none. Towards evening came down the river to mouth of the 

 Arickaree, where staid all night in hut, Perkins & Co.'s ranch. Mean temperature, 7° F. 



Lincoln, April 11,1877. — Reached Lincoln to-day at noon. This afternoon went east 

 to Antelope and beyond. Part of the locust-eggs seemed well on in hatching, about 

 one-half hatched. In low places — bottoms — the largest part seemed spoiled. Some 

 few nests had the lower tier hatched out. 



Lincoln, April 12,1877. — Considerable numbers of locusts hatched out to-day. Mean 

 temperature, .50° F. They feed on the young grass. 



To-day exposed same 20 nests that had commenced to hatch; seemed to be about one- 

 half formed. Break their covering. South side of the Antelope. Great fears are en- 

 tertained by the people that the crop will be destroyed. 



Lincoln, Friday, April 13, 1877. — Mean temperature to-day, 52° F. Went to south 

 side of the Antelope. Many hatching out. Examined the 20 nests that I had exposed 

 yesterday. They seem to be shriveling up. Exposed 20 more. 



Vast numbers are hatching out on the capitol grounds. Many eggs are bottled and 

 sent away. 



Went to South Lincoln and found vast numbers hatching out. At this rate the, 

 great body of them will soon be out. 



Lincoln, April 14, 1877. — Mean temperature to-day, 70° F. Locusts hatched out to- 

 day in enormous numbers. Southwest wind. 



Examined the eggs that I had exposed on south side of the Antelope. First lot 

 ■ withered and destroyed by the exposure. Exposed a new lot that were almost ready 

 to come out of the shell, also a few that I found that were yet unsegmented. 



On the capitol grounds the locusts were coming out in great numbers, also in South 

 Lincoln and for miles in the country. In South Lincoln exposed a large number that 

 were about ready to come out. Found large clusters in many places — many pale ones 

 and an equal number that had reached a dark color. Hear of them hatching out in 

 several adjoining counties and in various portions of the State. 



