APPENDIX VTII. AUGHEY's RECORD FOR 1877. [125] 



of the season. A good many were in the air at ten o'clock, apparently moving a little 

 east of nortli. At noon very thick, moving 15° east of north. Velocity, G miles an 

 hour. 



All the crops are good between North Platte and Kearney. Abundance of rain this 

 season, and the locusts did no harm. Rain-fall at least 50 per cent, greater this season 

 than last or the year previous to the last. 



Schui/Icr, Colfax Counti/, Juhj 3, 1877. — Reached here to-day at 12 m. This afternoon 

 was taken by Mr. Clarkson, tirst south across the Platte, and then east over the bot- 

 toms, and then the bluiis. Traveled about 12 miles. Saw little damage done by the 

 locusts. Only an occasioual field had been injured, and many that had been hurt in 

 the early part of the season recovered themselves as the locusts died oif. All the 

 crops magnificent. A few locusts flying again towards the north, or a little east of 

 north, at ten o'clock. At noon and till two o'clock, great numbers moving north. Ve- 

 locity, 5i miles an hour ; height, f of a mile. 



. Schuyler, Colfax County, July 4, 1877. — This afternoon went across the Platte bottom 

 towards the north and struck the Shell Creek bottom, which we mainly followed for 

 fourteen miles. Only about one field in fifteen had been injured by the locusts. The 

 farmers that had fought the locusts succeeded in saving their crops, even where the 

 locusts were the thickest. Those few that lost portions of their crops did nothing to 

 fight the locusts. Crops splendid. Saw very many locusts moving north again to-day, 

 north 20° east. A few were falling down dead or dying. Those that I examined had 

 either the red dorsal- striped maggot in them or nothing that I could detect. One-third 

 composed those without anything. Velocity, si miles an hour; height, nearly a mile, 

 but sparse. Saw two gentlemen, whose names I cannot recall, direct from the Black 

 Hills, who report that the locusts came there in large numbers from the south and 

 were already laying their eggs there. They report them to be specially abundant 

 around the south edge of the Hills. 



Omaha, July 5, 1877. — This evening I met Lawrence Bruner, who had also received 

 letters from the Black Hills stating that the locusts that had lit down there from the 

 south were laying their eggs, thus confirming the report that I received from the Black 

 Hills at Schuyler. Here in Omaha there seems to be universal satisfaction now with 

 the work of the Entomological Commission — more so than at any previous date. Some 

 locusts moving 17° east of north and about 4 miles an hour, and three-fourths of a mile 

 high. 



Lincoln, July 6, 1877. — Returned home to-day from Omaha. Some locusts flying to- 

 day — a few rising and more in the air, from distant regions. They were moving about 

 25° east of north^ Saw them from the Missouri river to Lincoln. Rate, about 5 miles 

 an hour. A few falling down dead ; those that I examined had either maggots in them 

 or had from two to twelve red mites, mostly near the base of their wings" 



Lincoln, July 9. — Large numbers of locusts were flying south to-day. Column nearly 

 a mile high ; thick above and sparse below. Velocity 7 miles an hour. Flew from 

 ten to half-past two o'clock. A few fell down dead from the moving mass. 



July 10. — A few locusts flew south to-day. 



Plattsmouth, July 12. 1877. — Locusts flying 20° west of north over Plattsmouth to-day, 

 in large numbers. Went over the Missouri into Iowa, and found the same condition 

 of things there. They must have come from southwestern Iowa, though I supposed 

 that they had left there long ago. Estimated velocity, 6 miles an hour. Column a 

 mile high ; upper portion sparse. 



Lincoln, July 13, 1877. — Returned to-day from Plattsmouth. Locusts all along the 

 road between this and Plattsmouth, moving towards the northwest, about 20° west of 

 north. Velocity, 6 miles an hour. Barley and rye are being harvested in a splendid con- 

 dition. In a week more a great deal of wheat will be cut. The flying south of locusts 

 several days back has produced some anxiety. 



Lincoln, Sunday, July 15, 1877. — To-day, between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m., the locusts were 

 flying south over Lincoln, probably only because the wind happened to be in that 

 direction. They were very high in the air. A rough trigonometrical measurement 

 made the distance three-quarters of a mile to the upper edge of the locusts. Velocity 

 about (5 miles an hour. Have not heard of them lighting down anywhere in their 

 southern flight. 



Lincoln, July 18, 1877. — ^To-day, from 10 to 1 o'clock, the locusts were moving south, or 

 a little east of south, in considerable numbers. About 12 m. the numbers were specially 

 large. Some fell down as they were flying, either dead or in a dying condition. Only 

 a few of those falling had parasites in them, and these parasites were all grubs, with 

 the red line along the back. Have not been able to hear of them lighting down any- 

 where, though I have sent and telegraphed in various directions. 



Sioux City, July 20, 1877. — Some locusts flying south to-day over Sioux City. Yester- 

 day a few were flying north while on my Vay from Lincoln to Omaha. Velocity, 6 

 miles an hour. Estimated the velocity by walking as fast as they flew, and noting 

 how long it took me to go 100 yards. 



Dakota City, July 20, 1S77.— As I came down from Sioux City to Dakota, jnst as I 



