629 
the same time working the plates at the apex in such a manner that 
she will gradually bore a cireular hole from one to one and a half 
inches in depth, according to species, and about a quarter of an inch 
in diameter. Some species will lay their eggs in old logs or stumps; 
then, after the eggs are laid (in clusters), the hole is covered up 
with a plug of gummy substance. There is but one generation a 
year, and in most cases the winter is passed in the egg state. 
The most damage is caused by the grasshoppers while yet in 
the hopper stage, before maturity or winged stage. 
The question of dealing with the locust swarms is a very per- 
plexing one. Whenever locust swarms make their appearance it is 
generally found that they will extend over many thousand square 
miles of country at the same time; and all methods employed in 
their destruction up to the present time have only been partially 
successful. A few years ago it was expected that the application of 
the African locust fungus would successfully destroy these locust 
swarms, but this, too, has proved a failure. In the United States of 
America there are some sections where they use what are termed 
hopperdozers in locus-infested districts. These are made of iron 
or tin, in the form of flat trays, containing kerosene or tar, and are 
either pulled or pushed along against the wind, and the hoppers, 
in trying to get out of the way, will jump in or are blown in and 
killed, and millions are thus destroyed in a very short time. The 
poisoned bran mash has also proved a very successful remedy in 
reducing the number of hoppers. This consists in mixing 1lb. of 
arsenic, 2lbs. of sugar, 20lbs. of bran, llb. saltpetre, water added 
to make a mash. Mix the dry bran and arsenic in a tub; dissolve 
the sugar in sufficient water to make the mixture into a mash. A 
teaspoonful of the bait will kill locusts eating it a week after it has 
been laid out, but though its action is slow it is sure, and kills them 
in a few hours. The sugar is added to make the arsenic adhere to 
the flakes of bran. 
A cheaper mixture or bait, called in Manitoba “Criddle mixture,” 
after the name of its user, consists of 40 parts horse-dung; 2 parts 
salt, and l1lb. Paris green, and sufficient water to moisten it. 
Scattered over the infested places it is said to attract the insects for 
some distance, and is as efficacious several weeks after as it is when 
fresh. It offers this advantage besides that of cheapness, that farm 
stock won’t pick it up as they would poisoned bran. 
Natural Enemies—lIt was expected some years ago to secure 
from New South Wales some of the tachina fly parasites which are 
to be found in that State; but owing to the dry condition of the 
country at the time no locusts were to be found. This parasite is 
itself, in turn, heavily parasitised by an ichneumon fly. There ean 
be no doubt but that if we could introduce the tachina fly into this 
