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in this colony during the past eighteen months. This locust is nearly 
omnivorous and is credited with being particularly fond of tree foliage. 
It is not frightened by smoke, nor does its flight seem much affected by 
the prevailing winds. The natives will not eat it, as they do the ordi- 
nary migratory locust (Pachytylus migratorius). Small swarms have 
been observed along the east coast of the colony as far back as 1893, 
since which time the species has been continuously abundant in the 
neighboring colony of Natal. A previous invasion of much magnitude 
is said to have occurred between 1840 and 1845. In November, 1895, 
immense and numerous swarms appeared from the direction of the 
Kalahari Desert, where the species is presumed to be endemic, and from 
Natal. From the north and east these swarms soon spread over two- 
thirds of the area of the colony, but were most numerous and caused 
greatest loss in the thickly settled native territories along the coast 
south of Natal and in the long, narrow belt of coast land at the south 
of the colony. The invasion reached its height about the 1st of Feb- 
ruary, 1896. By the end of March the swarms had greatly dwindled in 
size and had ceased to advance. 
In April immense swarms of nymphs, called “ voetgangers” (the term 
“locusts” being usually applied only to the winged insects), appeared in 
most situations where rain had fallen subsequent to the passage of the 
swarms. Tor atime the outlook was most disheartening to the farmers, 
but the voetgangers over large areas were soon observed to be rapidly 
disappearing and reports of damage became infrequent except from the 
eastern sections. The cause of the disappearance was soon found to be 
afungus disease identified as Empusa grylli Fres. This disease appeared 
in all sections where the conditions necessary to the spread of such 
fungi obtained. The Bacteriological Institute of the Department of 
Agriculture at once endeavored to aid in its dissemination by distribut- 
ing artificial cultures; but while some benefit has undoubtedly been 
derived by this course, artificial propagation of the disease has been a 
failure in the majority of cases owing to the absence of favorable 
weather conditions. All the swarms now appear to be restricted to the 
district east of Port Elizabeth, and though not large or numerous, they 
are Still responsible for much destruction in the native territories. 
A pyralid moth which Lord Walsingham has identified as Lowostege 
Jrustalis Z. has attracted considerable attention during late years by 
its ravages over extensive tracts of territory in the middle sections of 
the colony. Farmers complain of it as an annual pest of increasing 
unportance, but it is more likely that its increasing importance arises 
from the fact that the land is becoming more heavily stocked than from 
an increase in numbers on the part of the pest. Moreover, the nightly 
herding of the stock, necessary because of the presence of wild Car- 
nivora, is practiced, and the herbage is thus deprived of a large part 
of the fertilizing elements which it would otherwise receive; in conse- 
quence, the herbage steadily decreases in luxuriance and the mroads 
