52 
i.e., in isolated areas. Most attention has been drawn, however, to 
the several counties near Sphinx County and a region about Chamber- 
lain, in Brule County, as a center. 
M. spretus was responsible for the larger part of the injury. Strict 
measures were taken by Mr. Saunders, especially in the former regions, 
_and he reports that he has succeeded in checking the pest to a large 
extent. The origin of these South Dakota swarms has been accounted 
for. They arrived early in September last year from northeastern 
Wyoming and were assisted at that time by favorable winds. 
As in Nebraska, native species have been very numerous and have 
occurred indiscriminately with spretus at all points. J. femur-rubrun, 
M. atlanis, and M. differentialis have been represented about equally. 
My personal investigation in South Dakota was confined to the Black 
Hills, which is the only portion of the State easily accessible from Lin- 
coln by rail, and was undertaken mainly on account of a newspaper 
article under date of July 15. This article stated that a large region 
had been overrun by locusts to such an extent that ranchmen were 
compelled to move their herds to other places and that all crops 
were being destroyed. Regarding this, I have to report that the state- 
ment was entirely without foundation. Several reliable observers who 
have been stationed in the Hills state that this report was noticed and 
commented upon by the people of the Hills, and that this was the first 
intimation that they had received of such an occurrence. Mr. F. D. 
Burr, of Lead City, and Mr. A. S. Pearse, of Deadwood, both of whom 
traveled in all parts of the Hills during June, July, and August, report 
that no cases of damage came to their notice. I consulted newspaper 
men, traveling men, and tourists by dozens and found that none of 
them had seen any damage done in the Hills. Mr. M. C. McCain, 
of Rapid City, gives me the best account of the situation in this part of — 
South Dakota; it is appended to this report. I was unable myself to — 
find any species of Orthoptera abundant here. Only one-half dozen — 
of spretus near Kdgmont were taken and other species were corre- 
spondingly scarce. 
It thus appears that, excepting the Black Hills ani the southeastern _ 
part, the State has been locally affected, and very severely in some cases. 
Unless swarms of spretus have come in from the Big Horn Mountain 
region, which { have been unable to ascertain, but which seems — 
improbable, the situation in South Dakota next year is very easily 
forecasted; spretus will be a great deal less abundant, though the 
native species will be as numerous as they have been this season. 
SUMMARY. 
Regarding the Rocky Mountain locust.—There was, this season, a gen- 
eral activity of this species throughout the permanent breeding region 
greater than for any time for many years. This was brought about by 
a series of dry years, which have resulted in the abandonment of farm- — 
MES Hae ity Tae gee tet 
