60 NOTKS. 



in Adelaide, where as one of our members, Mr. F. M. Bailey 

 informs me they are kept greatly under control by strewing 

 branches of Castor Oil plant, which acts as a poison on them, in 

 their path. Might not a method for protecting our sugar plan- 

 tations be suggested by this practice, seeing that the Castor Oil 

 plant grows as rampant as a weed throughout the colony.* 



In a subsequent letter dated loth April, Mr. Gedley writes — 

 " Up to the present time I have been unable to discover any 

 locusts' eggs, although 1 have a great many observers employed. 

 These pests have now almost entirely disappeared from our 

 neighbourhood, although there remains still a few in the most 

 advanced stage." 



have been able to trace their line of flight in the first 

 instance. Three years ago they were seen on the top of Sea View 

 Range, nearly due east of Cardwell ; they then followed a south- 

 eastern course which brought them to the Valley of the Herbert, 

 on the south side of the river. Having crossed the Stone River 

 they spread themselves all over the vast plain lying between that 

 river, the sea, and the Herbert River, over a surface of some 150 

 square miles; here, since their first appearance, they seem to have 

 bred and flourished. The way they disappear is not so plain, it 

 is quite likely that they only go into the ground to lay their eggs; 

 their flight is most erratic, sometimes they seem to be going north 

 with a strong flight, they then suddenly whirl round and return to 

 the south." 



"They have done us a great deal of harm this year, probably 

 £3o,ooo would not cover it," 



•'In the very earliest stage they are Hke a lot of large fleas, 

 very active and alive to danger. As they grow they become less 

 active, and so on until they become possessed of wings ; immed- 

 iately after they have become winged they are exceedingly 

 delicate and easily killed; in a few minutes, however, the wings 

 darken in color, and the insect flies off. I have seen large areas 

 covered with them in this stage. I have noticed also that they 

 eat each other. Having confined 18 in a bottle they were reduced 

 to 7 the following morning; one or two died in captivity — those that 

 remained alive ate the bodies, &c." 



"My plan for their extermination is to drive them into 

 trenches and bury them ; I have also surrounded them with fire. 

 All kinds of insect-eating birds feast on them, even the common 

 black Crow gets his share. Spoonbills, Ibis, and other birds are 

 here in large congregation." — H. Tryon. 



* Mr. Bailey also suggested the use of the " lark's-spur " plant, which 

 was found to act as an almost instantaneous poison, whilst the Castor Oil 

 plant was found to be much slower in its effects. 



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