[126] REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



was getting on the cars, and for a few minutes afterwards, one stream of locusts were 

 flying north and another above this stream, about half a mile above it, was moving 

 south. At the edge, where the two streams met, the locusts seemed to intermingle. 

 Both streams comparatively sparse. 



Dal:oia City, Saturday, July 21, 1877. — At ten o'clock a few locusts were seen moving 

 north, and at eleven a stream above this northward-moving column was again going 

 south. Around town there are still some locusts left, but not doing any particular 

 damage. Movement of upper current six, and of the lower five miles an hour. Both 

 comparatively sparse. 



DaJcota City, Sunday, July 22, 1877. — After church, this forenoon, I went into the 

 country five miles, to the farm of Jacob Neikes. On the way some few locusts were 

 on the wing, mostly moving north. Mr. Neikes's grain-field, east of his house, as also 

 his corn-field, is in danger of being destroyed. Great numbers of locusts have lighted 

 in it from those coming from the north; at least, this is the statement of those living 

 here. In going among these locusts, great numbers seemed to be diseased. Some were 

 hardly able to fly, and a few were either dying or dead. Found some parasites on these, 

 chiefly the grub, before mentioned, or else the red mites. On an adjoining farm, 

 William Armor's, the locusts had come down from the north, and after remaining a few 

 days went back in the direction from which they came. Returned to Dakota this 

 evening. The birds destroying many locusts here. 



Monday, July 23, 1877, five miles south of DaJcota City. — To-day went with a party to 

 a land-slide at the bluffs, ten miles south of Dakota City and near Lee Warner's farm. 

 Some locust flying to-day in a northeastern direction. Lee Warner insisted today 

 that lime-water, instead of coal-oil,. had answered every purpose for him in capturing 

 locusts with pans. Among the locusts flying to-day cliff swallows were at work. Some 

 Bartramian plover were mounting up into the air to cai)ture them. Stopped at Dear- 

 ing's all night. 



Tuesday, July 24, 1877, five miles soutlncest of BaJcota. — Came to-day to Mr. Neikes's from 

 Dearing's. The locusts still at work on his grain-field east of his house and on his 

 oats, west of his residence. On the oats specially bad. He commenced to cut them 

 in order to save them. Some of the locusts on his and the adjoining farm that were 

 working on the wheat moved north to-day, but still there are great numbers left. 

 Going among his wheat, I found great numbers of dead locusts. Some gave no evi- 

 dence of death from parasites, while others had a few mites on them or larvie of ich- 

 neumons in them. 



Dakota City, Wednesday, July 25, 1877. — Went to William Brown's yesterday afternoon, 

 from J. Steeke's. Brown has been here only a year and is somewhat discouraged. His 

 cultivated land is mostly new breaking, and more than one-half of his wheat was 

 destroyed by the locusts that hatched out here, and came over from an adjoining farm. 

 He admits that had he known as much early in the season as he does now, he could have 

 saved his crops of wheat and corn. Some locusts also lit down here on their flight 

 south. 



To-day at ten o'clock the locusts were again flying northwest, but without much 

 vigor. At two o'clock they seemed to be moving in an extremely high current in an 

 opposite direction. The people much confused in their statements and quite contra- 

 dictory. Observed the cow-birds to-day picking up locusts, and the yellow-heads at 

 work among those that were flying at some elevation overhead. Birds generally much 

 more abundant than when I was here in former years. This is probably owing to the 

 increased number of groves and the cessation of the cruel habit of shooting birds. 



Ponca, Thursday, July 26, 1877. — Reached here to-day at four o'clock. On the way 

 up the locusts were moving in two opposite directions. On the lower current the 

 locusts were moving a little east of north in considerable numbers. Above this cur- 

 rent large numbers were moving a little west of south. At the edge where these two 

 currents come together they seemed to intermingle. Crops looked grand all the way 

 up. Locusts had here mostly died off. 



Ponca, Monday, July 30, 1877. — Visited the so-called volcano to-day, 12 miles north- 

 west of Ponca and near Ionia. On our way the locusts in considerable numbers were 

 moving a little east of north. The crops in the county splendid. Locusts died off 

 before destroying many fields. 



Ponca, Dixon County, July 31, 1877. — Temperature 72° F. When we emerged to- 

 day near noon from the timber at the mouth of Ionia Creek, where we had gone to 

 visit some rock-exposures of the Cretaceous age, a considerable number of locusts were 

 flying about 20° east of north. In the afternoqn, very high up in the air, many were 

 flying south. 



Dakota City, Thursday, Auf/ust 2, 1877. — Came from Ponca to-day by car. Locusts 

 were again in the air, but moving aimlessly about, sometimes in a circle. Moving in 

 a circle, I could not tell the numbers or even guess at the comparative number. Air 

 comparatively calm, though slightly from the south. 



Dakota City, Saturday, August 4, 1877.— A few locusts again moving a little east of 

 north to-day. 



