[148J REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



the ova deposited in the fall months produced immense swarms of these nauseous and 

 noxious vermin, vrhich destroyed everything that had been sown throughout the 

 length and breadth of the land the next spring. The potatoes had their stalks eaten 

 into the ground, but, after the grasshoppers had left, so far recovered as to produce a 

 small quantity of very small potatoes. 



In the month of August, 1869, great swarms of grasshoppers fell on each side of the 

 Red River from Pembina to a distance of ten miles below Upper Fort Garry and for 

 some miles up along the Assiniboine River. These, following their instinct^, deposited 

 their ova and disappeared. In the spring of 1870, many of the farmers in the districts 

 where the young grasshoppers began to appear did not sow, but those who did sow 

 had the mortification to see their fine and fertile fields desolated. Some potatoes were 

 raised in these districts, but the perfection to which they attained was greatly owing 

 to the lateness of the fall. 



And here permit us to remark that, from what we have been able to observe, we are 

 inclined to think that grasshoppers never deposit their ova in the soil in which they 

 themselves came into existence. — (Published by order of the legislature in 1871.) 



Charles V. Riley : 



Dear Sir : I received your note of the 3d instant, which came to hand on the loth. 

 I notice what you say in regard to my three skeptical friends. Hay, Kennedy, and his 

 grace of St. Boniface. But, fortunately, I have not trusted to that but too often 

 treacherous faculty, memory, but kept a journal of occurrences, though a very brief 

 one, and in my notes of 1864 I find it thus written : — " June 28th. The grasshoppers 

 fell in great numbers from Upper Fort Garry to Laire's post, on the Assiimiboine, a dis- 

 tance of twenty-five miles, committing great ravages on the crops. July 7th. Clear 

 warm day, wind blowing freshly from the southwest, about 10 a. m. Swarms of grass- 

 hoppers iiew over this place (Little Britain) during the space of three hours, in a north 

 easterly direction the lowest a few yards from the ground the highest at a very 

 great height ; those near the ground falling down in great numbers, so much so, that 

 a dozen might be seen on a square foot. July 8, 10 a. m. Swarms passing to the east 

 at a great height, very few coming to the ground. 9th. Having rained during the day, 

 grasshoppers benumbed. 10th. Grasshoppers flying to the east, numbers falling to 

 the ground. 11th. Clear and hot, wind south. Grasshoppers pairing and depositing 

 their eggs. 24th. The last week very warm. The grasshoppers are laying their eggs 

 in great numbers ; some of their nests contain from 26 to 31 eggs. They have cut off 

 the leaves of the wheat, but the grain is still growing. They extend 5 or 6 miles to 

 the west of the river. They destroyed the barley crops, cutting off heads. The pota- 

 toes did not suffer much." 



So much for '64. In '65 1 went to hunt at Shoal Lake, accompanied by my son and an 

 Indian. We left my place. Little Britain, on the 5th of June. On the evening of the 

 6th, we arrived on what was to be our hunting-grounds. Our object was to collect birds 

 with their nests, with every other creature that we could find, all of which we sent in 

 due time to the Smithsonian Institution, and, as our work demanded, kept a sharp look. 

 On the 7th, we moved to a point near to where we expected to find fowls in great 

 abundance. 8th and 9th, my men were off hunting and returned late on the 10th ; they 

 landed on the extremity of the point, and came to me in the night. Next day, which I 

 think was Sunday, was very clear and warm. We went to see the hunt, and on the 

 point found full-grown grasshoppers along the shore, having been drowned in the lake. 

 The wind began to blow from northwest and the grasshoppers began to fly before it. 

 " l^om their red legs, they appeared to be of the same species as those of last fall, but 

 there were no young ones within twenty miles of the x^lace. June 12th, grasshoppers 

 flying to the northwest in great numbers. Wind at the south. Skinning and cleaning 

 eggs all day. Tuesday, left the east side of Shoal Lake for the Manitoba Lake. We 

 arrived at St. Laurent late in the evening ; learned that the Franklin gulls had aban- 

 doned their former breeding-places at the south end of Lake Manitoba, and were only 

 to be found north of the Oak Point, for which place we set out ; traveled till dark, slept 

 on the open plain. Left camp early ; were delayed at Oak Point for some hours by 

 heavy showers of rain ; learned from' the residents that the grasshoppers came with a 

 southwest wind that blew on the 9th. Passed on to Little Swan Creek ; encamped. 

 Went to hunt in the marsh for gulls and eggs ; secured some gulls, but found no nests. 

 Thursday, clear fine day, sent the Indian and William to hunt. They returned in the 

 afternoon with bushels of eggs and a number of the parent birds (Franklin gulls). 

 Helped skinning and cleaning eggs all day. Friday, raining and blowing freely from 

 the south. Left camp about 9 a. m. ; traveled on the east of Manitoba Lake. Full- 

 grown grasshoppers numerous in some places along the road. Saturday, made an 

 early start and arrived at Poplar Point at 4 p. m. ; very few locusts seen to-day. Re- 

 turned home on the 22d, where I found a few grasshoppers in the neighborhood of my 

 place, and learned that they made their appearance there on the 8th or 9th. After- 

 wards found that a few visited Fort Alexander about the same time." 



Here I have given you verbatim what I recorded twelve years ago for my own satis- 



