17 



STARTING POINTS OF INVADING SWARMS IN 1877. 



Besides the region iu the article above quoted from the Winnipeg 

 Standard, various parts of Montana are known to have been con- 

 siderable hatching-grounds during the past spring. In the Bis- 

 marck Tribune of June 14th is found the following, which is 

 quoted because it gives an idea not only of the place but of the 

 nature of a breeding-ground : 



"In the Fikld, near Rosebud Buttks, May 29, 1876. 

 "As we move westward the grazing improves, and here in the Little 

 Missouri Valley the season is at least a month in advance of the season on 

 the Missouri. This would be a splendid grazing region, were the water 

 good. The grass is heavy and nutritious, but the water is strongly im- 

 pregnated with alkali. Millions of locusts are just now making their 

 appearance in this region. Too young to fly or do much harm, in a few 

 days, should the winds favor them, they will sweep down upon the defence- 

 less agriculturalists on the border, doing untold damage." 



Officers who passed over the country between the Little Missouri 

 and the Yellowstone rivers during the spring, state that at various 

 points in that region young locusts were found in immense num- 

 bers. Shortly before the 23d of July, migrating swarms of locusis 

 appeared in the vicinity of Gen. Crooks' camp; "myriads of 

 grasshoppers filled the air, appearing like an immense drifting 

 snow-storm, trending toward the southeast, and apparently taking 

 advantage of a northwest wind to favor their flight to the same 

 fields that they have effectually devastated for two consecutive 

 seasons." (Extract from a letter of July 23d, quoted in the 

 Pioneer- Press and Tribune.) 



MOVEMENTS OF SWARMS OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA. 



It is difficult to show any eastward movement across Dakota of 

 these swarms that hatched in Montana. At Standing Rock, the 

 movement was from the north. On the 19th of July, quite a large 

 number were observed coming from the north, and by the 26th 

 had about all disappeared from the vicinity of that station. Capt. 

 Poland states that the main body appeared to pass to the west of 

 that station, moving south. No eggs were laid at Standing Rock, 

 or in the immediate region. At Fort Sully, as shown by the 

 records of the Signal Observer, the locusts appeared at various 

 dates from the 14th to the 30th of July, and again from the 10th 

 of August till September 2d ; but whenever the direction of their 



