APPENDIX VIII. AUGHEY^S KECORD FOR 1877. [127] 



C.iine to George Learner's last night. His crops were threatened with destruction 

 in the spring from the number of locusts on his farm ; but they died off or disappeared 

 in a mysterious way. Occasionally he found dead ones around his lields. He also 

 thinks the birds destroyed large numbers of them. His farm is two miles west of 

 Dakota. 



Yankton, Dal:, Monday, August 6, 1877. — Reached here this evening at five. On 

 our way up from Sioux City, on the Dakota Southern, between Elk Point and Sioux 

 City, the locusts were moving in two opposite directions. The lower current was 

 moving a little east of north in considerable numbers. An equally heavy column was 

 moving toward the south, above the one last rueutioned. If there was any difference 

 in numbers, the last was the heaviest in numbers. 



This whole section between Sioux City and Yankton had been locust-eaten. Some 

 fields every few miles gave evidence of the numbers and destructive work of the 

 locusts. Settlers on the route assured me that where crops were produced the locusts 

 died oft'; that only in a few places did the farmers fight them and destroy them with 

 ditches and kerosene-pans. Where crops escaped the locusts they were good. 



Niobrara, Knox County, Tuesday, August 7, 1877. — Yesterday evening, at five, took the 

 steamer Black Hills and came up the river through the night, and landed here at five 

 o'clock this morning. 



Mr. Westover, in his team, took me up the Niobrara River ten miles. Temperature, 

 77° F. Locusts moving in large numbers to-day toward the south from 10 a. m. to 2 

 p. m. Velocity, 6 miles an hour. Height, f mile. 



Xiohrara, Knox County, Wednesday, August 8, 1877. — Crossed into Dakota Territory to- 

 day and went a great dis#nce toward the northeast. Locusts in large numbers, high 

 np in the air, were moving south; were moving south all the way on our return, and 

 when we again reached Niobrara were still going south. Velocity of movement, 6 

 miles per hour. 



Xiohrara, Knox County, August 9, 1877. — Mr. Fry accompanied me to-day to the 

 Bazile Creek, which we ascended some distance. Locusts were moving again in small 

 numbers toward the south to-day, but not in such numbers as during the last few 

 days. Velocity, 1 miles an hour. 



On the Missouri bottom, opposite Yankton, the locusts had been very bad in the 

 spring and early summer. Some fields of wheat they entirely destroyed. On other 

 tracts they simply died off, so the farmers report. Some of the farmers here saved 

 themselves by ditching and kerosene-pans, but these methods were not employed to 

 any considerable extent. Where the crops were saved or left undisturbed they look 

 magnificent. A few more locusts were flying south to-day. In some places on this 

 long journey they seemed to be confiTsed, and were flying around in all directions. I 

 looked diligently and inquired of Buckwalters, Wynns, &c., for locust-data, but found 

 none. 



Dakota City, Saturday, August 11, 1877. — This morning started at Yankton, Dak., 

 at fi o'clock, and reached Sioux City at 12. 



At 10 o'clock in Dakota Territory, between Vermillion and Elk Point, a great many 

 locusts were moving south. The column, though sparse, must have been nearly a mile 

 high. They were still moving south at Sioux City, and continued until about 3 o'clock. 

 I saw the column decline as 1 was approaching this place, after I had crossed the Mis- 

 souri. I saw a few fall down all along from this moving column, but could get none 

 until I reached Sioux City. A few here that I picked up contained the small maggot 

 before mentioned, and a few the red mites around the base of their wings. 



Since I left Dakota City the people here report the locusts as having been moving 

 south on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, the same days that they were moving south over Nio- 

 brara. 



Dakota City, Sunday, August 12, 1877. — A few locusts were flying south to-day, but 

 not to compare in numbers with the moving column yesterday. Velocity, about 5^ 

 miles an hour. 



Omalia, Monday, August 13, 1877. — To-day, as I was coming from Sioux City. Iowa, 

 to Council Bluffs, between 1 and 4 o'clock p. m., a few locusts were moving slightly 

 west of south. Some others in places seemed to be confused, and were flyiug around in 

 every direction. At Onawa, Iowa, I was told that the locusts that had lit down there 

 on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of August from the north, going south, mostly left on the 10th 

 and went toward the north, the direction from which they had cornel! The gentleman 

 who gave me the information when he came on the cars at Onawa gave me his name 

 as H. S. Perser. I have some doubts about his story. 



Lincoln, Thursday, August 16, 1877. — On my way home from Omaha to-day saw a few 

 locusts flying, but was not sure in what "^direction they were trying to go. They 

 seemed to be moving high up in the air in every direction. An unusual number of 

 dead ones were falling down from among the flying locusts. Many that fell were at 

 first able to move around a few inches or feet, but soon lost motion and life. Many 

 of these I could find nothing on — no parasites and nothing else. Up to this time found 

 no traces of them pairing or getting ready for laying eggs. 



