106 



of August 27, 1899, stating that there is every prospect that during* the 

 coming season (this winter) there will be a locust invasion in great force. 

 The statement is made on the authority of Mr. Oliver 0. James of Car- 

 carana, who is said to be one of the best authorities in the Argentine 

 Republic on questions relating to locusts. Mr. James calls attention 

 to the fact that the permanent breeding grounds of the South Ameri- 

 can locust in Uruguay are neglected, and emphasizes the fact that 

 money spent in invaded regions is absolutely thrown away unless sup- 

 plemented by coordinate efforts in Uruguay. 



A report from Mr. W. Stanley Hollis, United States consul at Lou- 

 renco Marquez, in the southeastern part of Africa, transmitted in the 

 same way and dated August 24, states that during that month the town 

 was twice visited by dense swarms of locusts which did considerable 

 damage and left the roofs of the buildings in a filthy condition, thereby 

 necessitating much extra cleaning. As all of the drinking water is 

 drained from the roofs and stored in iron tanks, the pollution by locusts 

 is a serious matter, as locust droppings are most offensive. This is a 

 new aspect of locust damage. 



A NEW CLOTHES-MOTH REMEDY. 



Dr. A. K. Fisher, of Washington, uses bisulphide of carbon against 

 clothes moths. He has a wooden chest in which he stores away his 

 clothes. In the cover of the chest he has a large auger hole, with a 

 sponge tied immediately below it. In midsummer he pours a few drops 

 of bisulphide of carbon through the auger hole upon the sponge and 

 closes the hole with a cork. He states that by virtue of this treatment 

 he has never had any moths in his clothes. 



NOCTURNAL FLIGHT OF GRASSHOPPERS. 



The following interesting note has been sent to this office by Dr. H. 

 M. Smith, of the United States Fish Commission: 



On July 12, 1899, between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, there was a remarkable flight 

 of grasshoppers at the light house in Lake Erie off the mouth of the Detroit River. 

 The insects were of large size and very numerous, the platform around the lantern 

 being thickly covered with them. The keeper aroused his assistants and had them 

 sweep the grasshoppers from the platform, a number of pailfuls being removed. 

 Although grasshoppers have occasionally appeared at this light house in the day- 

 time this is the first instance of a night flight. The light is one of the most pow- 

 erful and conspicuous on Lake Erie. 



After comparison with named specimens in Washington, Dr. Smith, 

 from recollection, seems reasonably sure that the species was the 

 American locust (Schistocerca americana). This species is a strong 

 flier, and, while it breeds only farther -south, has been occasionally 

 taken in Ontario. This remarkable flight noticed by Dr. Smith will 

 account for the Canadian occurrences of this species. 



