2 



The recent wide-spread appearance of three destructive conta- 

 gious diseases of the chinch bug, and a consequent diminution of 

 its numbers, makes it seem at last unlikely that any extraordinary 

 loss will follow next year in the territory which has been so long 

 infested. 



The present account will be limited chiefly to the most peculiar 

 features of this eruption, and to the new knowledge gained by a 

 careful study of its course. 



The following table of loss by the chinch bug in Illinois during 

 the year 1887 (when its injuries were most severe) is derived 

 from assessors' reports to the office, made as explained under 

 another head. The figures against the name of each county indi- 

 cate the number of townships from which was reported the grade 

 of loss indicated by the word at the head of the column; and the 

 number of townships heard from in each county is shown by the 

 sum of the figures against the name of that county in all the 

 columns for each crop. 



