54 



One of the first fields we passed was an immense wheat-field already in the 

 head, and the worms could be plainly discernible on the ground all through it 

 and on the stalks and heads. The worms having already devoured the young 

 timothy and other tender plants usually found growing there, the blades of the 

 wheat, the husks, and a goodly portion of the kernels, evidently could not find 

 sufficient food and were now migrating to pastures new, the sides of the field 

 being black with moving hosts seeking more nutritious food. 



These, as well as all the others observed, were moving in a south-westerly 

 direction, the direction of the prevailing wind. They were apparently in all 

 stages of growth, from little fellows not more than a quarter of an inch long to 

 the fully matured larvae, and all got over the ground and every obstacle in their 

 w£Ly with the most surprising rapidity. The fences, posts, and other obstacles in 

 their way were no obstruction to their migratory instinct, or their search for 

 food. The fence rails and posts were often covered with crawling worms, some- 

 times not less than a dozen worms being found on the top of a single tall post, 

 while others were seen going up on one side as others were going down the 

 opposite. Some specimens were even found under the loose bark on the posts 

 and rails, where they had probably crept for shelter. One specimen thus found 

 was in the jaws of a large hairy spider, Salticus sp. 



Adjacent to this wheat-field was a large field of timothy, containing 17 acres, 

 the blades of which had been cut oft* by the worms as clean as cattle could have 

 done. Mr. Jones, the overseer, informed me this field would have harvested not 

 less than three tons of hay to the acre, but now it would not pay for the cutting. 



At one side of this field, the side next the wheat, the worms had congregated 

 in countless numbers, every square foot having not less than 80 to 50 worms. 

 The worms were now coming out of this field and going into the adjoining wheat- 

 field and crossing the lane into the opposite fields in great numbers, and it was 

 here that we observed a flock of the common English sparrows and a few robins 

 picking out the smaller worms and feeding on them. Mr. Jones informed us the 

 English sparrows had been thus busily engaged all the past week, and it gives us 

 pleasure to record here this fact in favor of the despised bird. 



Some distance off from this field was another one of wheat, containing prob- 

 ably 20 acres, in which the worms were even more numerous, and they had 

 already sufficiently injured it to render the crop unprofitable to harvest. A deep, 

 broad ditch had been dug along one side, and it was now, about 5 o'clock p.m., 

 black with worms. It seemed to us a pity that these worms were not killed, as 

 many of them were able to crawl up the sides and escape into adjoining fields. 



Facing this field was a large corn-field of probably 75 acres, of which 50 

 acres had already been destroyed, and there was but a slight chance that any of 

 the corn still left would escape, although by ditching an effort was being made to 

 save it. Of the 50 acres destroyed 30 acres had already been replanted, and in 

 the newly plowed portion the worms were seen moving about in all directions, 

 having just entered it from the adjoining wheat; it is probable that most of these 

 will die of starvation or from the eflfects of the hot sun in the middle of the day. 



