98 



The Rocky Mountain Locust. 



ranges from early in May in the southern portions to the 

 third week in the northern extremity. 



In Montana and Manitoba, from the middle of May to 

 the first of June. 



In short, the bulk of the insects hatch, in ordinary 

 seasons, about the middle of March in latitude 35°, and 

 continue to hatch most numerously about four days later 

 with each degree of latitude north, until along the forty- 

 ninth parallel the same scenes are repeated that occurred 

 in Southern Texas seven or eight weeks before. 



HABITS OF THE YOUNG OR UNFLEDGED LOCUSTS. 



The habits of the young insects as they occur in the 

 country south of the forty-fourth parallel and east of the 

 one hundredth meridian, are as follows : Although possessed 

 of remarkably active powers from the moment they leave 

 the egg, yet so long as provision suffices for them on their 

 hatching- grounds the young remain almost stationary and 

 create but little apprehension. As soon, however, as the 

 supply of food in these situations is exhausted, they 

 commence to migrate, frequently in a body a mile wide, 

 devouring, as they advance, all the grass, grain and garden- 

 truck in their path. The migrating propensity is not 

 developed until after the first molt, and often not till after 

 the second or third. Up to that time they are content to 

 huddle in warm places, and live, for the most part, on 

 weeds, and especially on the common Dog-fennel or May- 

 weed (Maruta) where it is present. 



The young locusts display gregarious instincts from the 

 start, and congregate in immense numbers in warm and 

 sunny places. They thus often blacken the sides of houses 

 or the sides of hills. They remain thus huddled together 

 during cold, damp weather. When not traveling, and when 

 food is abundant, or during bad, rainy weather, they are 



