APPENDIX XXV. REPORTS FROM MONTANA. [249] 



again skimming along tlie surface of the earth, rising and falling in countless myri- 

 aUs. 



2. Do not recall the time of day of the departure of any swarms. 



3. The locusts, numerous hero at present, have leen copulating f(;r several days. 

 They were hatched here before my arrival. Have never noticed the deposit of eggs. 



4. Have generally noticed the ajipearance toward the end of May. Recall large 

 crops at Grand River, on the Missouri, in 1874, and at Fargo, Red River, in 187U, while 

 attending court there. They appear to attain full growth toward the end of June. 

 Those now htre were hardly' grown wben I arrived, twelve days ago. 



5. Recall no material departure from the foregoing times. 



6. No observations. 



7. Observations confined to non-timbered bottom-lands and low prairies on this (Mis- 

 souri) river, and the valley of the Red River of the North. 



8. liottoms dry and sandy, covered with grass, weeds, and wild roses ; x:)rairie, black 

 loamy sod, covered with grass. 



9. S^e aus^verto question 4. 



10. Early in July. Observations mostly north of 45th parallel ; from that to the 

 48th, north latitude; and they have generally left without attacking the gardens in 

 the vicinity of their nativity. 



11. Have seen great, devastation in Minniesota early in July, 1874; also in Southwest 

 lowaard Southeast Dakota at the same time, while traveling in those parts. The 

 damage in thesame region of Dakota last July (1876) was considerable. In both instan- 

 ces the 'hoppers came from parts unknown to the west, southwest, and northwest. No 

 agriculture near the posts on this river where I have been stationed except garden-patches. 

 These gardens have occasioi:ally been destroyed by 'hoppers, but more frequently by 

 jiotato-bugs and gray beetles. 



12. They generally spare nothing in fields or gardens where they light. 



13. Knew one man to save his potatoes by covering them with straw during the pas- 

 sage of the locust. Have only slight newspaper knowledge of the various expedients 

 that have been tried for the protection of crops to the east of us. 



14. See answer to question 12. 



15. No data. 



16. None. 



17. No effort at destruction. The only successful effort at protection is given in an- 

 swer 13. 



18. None. 



19. Was not here in 1876. Was stationed at Fort Randall, Dak., which was visited, 

 but the garden, abcut 30 acres, on bottom-land, surrounded on three sides by timber 

 and the fourth by bluff, was not attacked. Visit in July. 



20. Do not remember the dates of visitations at other posts in Dakota, but do not 

 think that any occurred later than the end of July, or the early part cf August. 



21. Little chance for observation. Domestic fowls at the military posts feed on the 

 insect with avidity. 



Finally, I have noticed no difference in the insects seen at various times and places. 

 The only parasite I have seen preying upon them is a small red buir. In 1875, if I re- 

 member events correctly, a season of ample rain-fall in Southeast Dakota, these para- 

 sites attacked the locusts in great numbers, and it was believed they v^ere the means 

 of forcing the pest to return west without doing any appreciable damage to the crops. 

 Very respectfully, 



S. S. TURNER, 

 Acting Assistant Surgeon, United States Army. 

 To A. S. Packard, Jr., Salem, Mass. 



Deer Lodgk, Mont. — The locusts arrive all times of day, never at night, always com- 

 ing with the wind : and if it becomes adverse or blows very hard^ they light until it 

 ceases or nearly so. The swarms depart usually as soon as the sun warms them up, at 

 8 or 9 a. m., the direction of wind at the time being usually north or northeast, the 

 weather being clear and warm. They usually fly to the south or southwest, but in 

 some instances to the southeast, rarely to the east ; the flight in the latter direction 

 local only. No eggs were deposited this year (1877), but they are usually deposited in 

 dry soil, mostly in August. The eggs Ubually hatch in May. Large fields of grain 

 are injured less than small ones by the young broods, for the reason that they usually 

 mature and fly away before reaching the middle of the field. The young locusts usually 

 travel to the south and southwest, the course in which they afterward fly, but if any 

 obstacles are met with, will diverge and sometimes return on their trail. Blackbirds 

 and snowbirds are particularly useful in destroying them. 



In 1876, swarms hatched in several places in this valley, and did considerable local 

 damage before taking flight. A heavy swarm from the northeast passed over in July, 

 going southwest, being several days in passing. The crops were too far advanced for 

 them to do much injury. 



