Habits, and Power for Injury. 



89 



ing the country, I have taken some pains to procure speci- 

 mens from as many different localities as possible. After 

 examining such from every State and Territory in the 

 country mentioned, from British America to the Gulf, it is 

 obvious that in every instance it is the same species that 

 proves such a scourge. As yet, we know nothing very defi- 

 nite about the species that has in the past done so much 

 damage in California and other parts of the country west 

 of the mountain range. Some suppose it to be the (Edip- 

 oda atroxj Scudder ; but as spretus has been taken in 

 Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Nevada, this species, or a race 

 of it, will doubtless be found to be the culprit. 



Only occasionally do specimens of some of the more 

 common species accompany the migratory one. Thus the 

 larger and common species, the Two-striped Locust ( Cal 

 optenus bivittatus, Say) and the Differential Locust (C. 

 differ entialis, Walk.) which are incapable of migrating to 

 any great distance, and which are common in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, have occasionally been caught with the spre- 

 tus, and sent to me with itc Already existing in the 

 country invaded by the Rocky Mountain species, they 

 were simply fathered up with it. 



Yet, while no other species possesses such wonderful 

 migratory habits, several become so enormously multiplied 

 during certain years in their native homes as to commit 

 very serious injury to vegetation. Some of them are also 

 capable of extended flight. Of these, I shall speak more 

 fully further on, 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The Rocky Mountain Locust may be said to be almost 

 omnivorous. Scarcely anything comes amiss to the raven- 

 ous hosts when famished. They will feed upon the dry 

 bark of trees or the dry lint of seasoned fence planks ; and 



