N 
28 The Destructive Locust of the West. [January, 
tance northwestward. We want to ascertain the extreme west- 
ern limits of this return migration. We also want to learn 
whether they return to their original breeding-places on the east- 
ern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, or whether the westerly 
winds, if they are westerly, drive them back and scatter them, so 
that they do not breed extensively. 
It will be seen by the reader that all grounds for a reliable 
working theory of locust migrations are based on the work of 
our Signal Bureau and local observers, and that the observations 
of the meteorologists and entomologists must go hand in hand. 
The government has provided a well-organized corps of meteo- 
rological observers, and we submit that a number of competent 
entomologists should take the field, under government auspices. 
Not only should the border States, especially Texas, Kansas, Ne- 
braska, Minnesota, and Iowa, employ competent entomologists, 
following the liberal policy of Missouri, which for eight years has 
had a state entomologist, whose reports have proved of incalcu- 
lable practical value, as well as of great scientific interest, but 
the habits of the locust need first of all to be thoroughly studied 
in the Territories, particularly those of Wyoming, Montana, 
Idaho, Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the State of 
Colorado. A commission of entomologists should be appointed 
to make a thorough detailed study for several successive seasons 
of the habits of the locusts in the Territories mentioned. It would 
seem that the recommendations made at the recent meeting of 
Western governors at Omaha, that an appropriation be made by 
Congress, and a commission be attached to the existing United 
States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, 
is the most feasible and economical method of securing the 
speediest and best results. 
Let us for a moment look at the losses sustained in the United 
States from the attacks of insects. The annual agricultural prod- 
ucts of this country by the last census amounted in value to 
$2,500,000,000. Of this amount we in all probability annually 
lose over $200,000,000 from the attacks of injurious insects alone. 
Dr. Riley avers that the losses during 1874 in Missouri from 
locusts, and it will be remembered that only the western third 
was invaded, exceeded $15,000,000. This would make the losses 
in other parts of the West at least twice as much more, or 
$45,000,000 in all. The estimated money loss occasioned by 
the chinch bug in Illinois in 1864 was over $73,000,000; in 
Missouri in 1874, it is estimated by Dr. Riley to have been 
