62 



ward. Some species of locusts and a few signs of their injuries were 

 still occasionally apparent, even as far as Haigler, Xebr. Here a 

 halt of over a day was made. A comparison of the conditions as 

 found here this year with those of a year ago showed a great improve- 

 ment. Possibly only half as many of the insects were present this 

 year as last, and these were pretty well bunched in certain weed 

 patches and alfalfa fields located in the A^alley near the river, whereas 

 last year they were quite generally distributed. Beyond Haigler but 

 few locusts were found in hurtful numbers, indicating that this local- 

 ity is almost on the western boundary line of the plague. From Wray, 

 Colo., all the way to DeuA^er, their numbers seemed to have dwindled 

 to normal, or even below. xVt least, such appeared to be the condition 

 along the line of the Burlington Railway. In fact, as nearly as I 

 Avas able to ascertain, this condition prevails throughout most of 

 Colorado east of the Eock}" Mountains, save perhaps in two or three 

 isolated localities in the valleys of the Arkansas and South Platte 

 rivers near the State line. The diminution in their numbers appears 

 to be due chiefly to fungous diseases and natural enemies, both of 

 which seem to haA^e been abnormally effective during the past two or 

 three years. 



All of the region lying along the eastern base of the range between 

 PeuA'er and Fort Collins was at this time remarkably free from these 

 insects. None whatcA^er Avere seen Avhile riding betAveen the tAvo 

 cities named, although a careful watch was kept throughout the 

 journey, and an inqiury at the agricultural college located at the 

 latter place elicited the information that hoppers Avere scarce in Colo- 

 rado, Avhile few or no reports had been receiA^ed the present season 

 concerning their presence or raA^ages. 



Going east from Fort Collins, a few of the insects, it was learned, 

 Avere to be found in and about alfalfa fields in the vicinity of 

 Greeley. XortliAvard from Greeley to Cheyenne, Wyo., no species of 

 grasshoppers were seen in abnormal numbers. Xor Avere they found 

 to be present along the Union Pacific Railroad betAveen Cheyenne 

 and Laramie in sufficient numbers to be noticeable. At Laramie few 

 indiA^duals of any species were to be seen, although seA^eral trips 

 Avere made for the special purpose of obtaining specimens. Professor 

 Buffum, director of the experiment station, who does the entomolog- 

 ical work in that State, also informed me that, so far as he knew, 

 similar conditions prevailed OA^er much of the State of Wyoming. 



LeaAdng Laramie and proceeding eastAvard over the LTnion Pa- 

 cific RailAvay, no grasshopper signs Avere A'isible at any point between 

 Cheyenne and North Platte. It was ascertained by inquiry that 

 although considerable injur^^ had been done by locusts for sca^- 

 eral years, and CA^en as recently as the year 1903, they appeared 

 to haA^e dAvindled to such an extent that this year they were not 



