﻿FIELD AND FOREST. 125 



hopper, Acrida viridissima, often found in his localitv. The specimen 

 measured about four inches asross the wings, which were of a greenish 

 hue, the wing cases and body being brown. This species is supposed 

 to be the locust mentioned in the Scriptures by the prophet Joel. 



EDITORIAL PENCILLINGS. 



The Grasshopper Bill in Congress. — In the House of Repre- 

 sentatives, December 18. 1876, Mr. Hatcher, from the fourth district 

 of Missouri introduced the following bill, making appropriation for a 

 commission to investigate and report upon the best means of destroy- 

 ing or providing remedies against the plague of locusts: 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress 

 assembled, that the sum. of twenty-five thousand dollars be, and the 

 same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 

 otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying the salaries and ex- 

 penses of a commission to consist of three entomologists and two West- 

 ern men who have had experience with the locusts, to be appointed 

 by the Secretary of the Interior, and whose duty it shall be to ex- 

 amine into the history and habits of the said locusts, and make report 

 thereon ; and also suggest such means of destroying them, or remedies 

 against them as their investigations shall prove most practicable. 



Congress has taken a step in the right direction in introducing a bill 

 looking toward a solution of the grasshopper question, and the next 

 proper step will be to pass the bill promptly, that the commission may 

 be appointed, and thoroughly organized before spring opens. In the 

 October number of this journal we gave our views on this subject, and 

 it is not necessary to repeat them here, further than to urge the nec- 

 essity of sending into the field practical entomologists, who are used 

 to field work : those who will settle or try to settle the questions as to 

 where these insects come from, and the locality and extent of their 

 feeding grounds before they suddenly make their appearance in the 

 vast hordes that sweep down in a night upon our farming lands. 



We are satisfied that much good can be accomplished by this com- 

 mission, but how much remains to be seen. Of course the total exter- 

 mination of the pests, is a thing not likely to be accomplished, but 

 we confidentially believe that with a proper knowledge of their habits 

 and natural history, and of their movements during various portions 



