[14GJ EEPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



movements of the locust previous to this summer. In 1875, eggs were extensively de- 

 posited throughout the hills, and the following year the hatched broods destroyed 

 everything green. 



No cultivation was attempted here last year. This year we have a small vegetable- 

 garden, which is doing well, the number of insects that sojourned not being sufficiently 

 great to do injury. These had their wings loaded, with small red mites, a parasite very 

 destructive to the locust. I counted as many as 21 mites on one locust, and seldom 

 less than five. Many also contained one or two maggots (Sarco])liaga carnaria). They 

 all seemed weak on the wing, and their diseased state was probably the cause of their 

 alighting. Most of those that alighted have gradually disappeared, in what manner 

 I cannot say. I have seen no swarms forming from them and no dead insects can be 

 found on the ground.— [J. G. Kittson, Fort Walsh, Cypress Hills, August, 1877 



What is called the Cypress Hills is a very elevated part of the great water-shed sep- 

 arating the Missouri Eiver and its tributaries from the northern rivers. The range 

 extends about 80 miles east and west and is over 40 miles wide. It is divided 

 into valleys by innumerable streams tending south to empty their waters into the 

 Milk River, a tributary of the Missouri. The valleys are deep and their sides steep, 

 often perpendicular; bottoms fiat. The sides and small center are generally well- 

 wooded with poplar, larch, and spruce. The highest point of land is 3,800 feet above 

 sea-level. On the south, east, and west the hills terminate somewhat abruptly, but 

 north they gradually lose themselves by undulations into the level country. Fort 

 Walsh is situated 10 miles from the south side and 23 from the west end. I believe 

 farming in the hills would prove a losing speculation ; frost comes as early as the 

 beginning of September. 



The day before yesterday, when returning from the boundary-line, I came across 

 some grasshoppers in the valley of what is called the Middle Fork of the Milk River, 

 30 miles south of this post. They were not very numerous ; about one to every 

 309 feet of surface. They were very busy copulating, although it was early in the 

 morning and very cold; about one -half inch of ice covered a small pond near our 

 camp. The bottom of this valley averages 200 yards in width. I had no time to see 

 how far the insects occupied the valley up and down. 



The prevailing winds here are the northwest and southwest. To-day we are having 

 a severe snow-storm, and there are already three inches of snow on the ground. — llbid.j 

 October 2, 1877. 



In answer to Circular No. 4, I have the honor to report : 



1st. -But few insects remained within the immediate vicinity of our post ; and half- 

 breed hunters now coming into winter-quarters say that the insects are not to be seen 

 anywhere on the plains. No eggs were deposited. 



2d. No new swarms have appeared since my last report. 



3d. In the Swan River districts eggs were very thickly laid in 1874 and 1875. The 

 same in the province of Manitoba. — \_Ibid., November 14, 1877. 



I have known a small white worm destroy great numbers of eggs of late years ; also 

 a small red parasitic insect deposits its eggs under the wings of the grasshopper when 

 quite young, which grow with the grasshopper, living on it in fact, and finally killing 

 it. It is only of late years that parasites have made their appearance in sufficient 

 numbers to be noticed, since which time they have destroyed large quantities, but not 

 sufficient to materially diminish the number of grasshoppers. I have not known any 

 powders or liquids to be used. Neither harrowing nor plowing the eggs under has 

 done any good in the province. Have not tried ditching. No machines have been 

 used here, to my knowledge, for killing grasshoppers. Some years ago I saved my gar- 

 den by dragging ropes over it several times a day.— [H. B. Hall, J. P., Heathingby, 

 Manitoba. 



I have no doubt whatever as to the correctness of your statement that the locust 

 breeds permanently in the third prairie steppe. From my knowledge of 'hoppers 

 generally the "bunch grass country" is their permanent home, as the conditions for 

 depositing and hatching their eggs are always there. 



The locust has never been able to pass a timber-belt of any considerable width, and 

 the reason seems to lie in the fact that when once they settle in a forest they can 

 never rise out of it, owing to the want of sunshine. 



No locusts crossed the North Saskatchewan in 1875, nor can they ever reach the 

 Peace River country, on account of its position and general direction of the wind in 

 the summer months. 



Hitherto locusts have been altogether unknown in the Peace River Prairie, and 

 as the whole region is constantly covered with a very luxuriant growth of grass, 

 I am of the opinion that there are no fears of any invasion nor permanent settlement 

 by them in the country. They cannot reach the country on account of the forest, and 

 were it possible for them to do so, scarcely a suitable place could be found for their 

 eggs. 



From whatever cause, the low pressures pass from Manitoba to the southeast and the 



