HIBERNATION. 13 
last five years. It would be amusing if it were not so pathetic, to read the many 
letters I get, something in thiswise: u l planted wheat on sod land, the chinch bnga 
destroyed it so badly that in February I plowed it up and sowed oats, this, too 
went the same way; I then planted corn, and when it was a foot high the little 
bugs came by the millions and destroyed that : I then planted the land to Kafir corn, 
and that will be ruined if you can not help me." What could I do for such a man? 
Had the bugs laid out a programme for their daily sustenance, no better commissary- 
general could have been obtained for them than he was, and 1 had to write him that 
his plan was the worst one possible for him, and the best for the bugs, and that the 
only suggestion I could make, from the bugs standpoint and for their benefit, would 
be to plant wheat again so that they could have something for the coming winter's 
food. In his case it was a series of fatal mistakes from ignorance of the habits of 
the bugs. 
Another thing which I believe adds materially to the increase of these pests is the 
complete destruction of the prairie chickens, the decimation of partridges, and the 
thinning out of all kinds of smaller birds, such as the cow blackbirds, bank spar- 
rows, martins, larks, and other prairie birds. This section is full of reckless boys 
and men who kill everything that flies, good, bad and indifferent, •• for fun.'' 
Some years ago I was out on the Cherokee Strip, miles away from human habita- 
tion, and sawsome of the small birds — larks and killdees — busily picking in the young 
grass, in early spring, and upon examination found these places swarming with 
chinch bugs sucking the juices of the blue-stem grass. 
Almost any time in the winter when the weather is warm one can find chinch bugs, 
and I have witnessed two "nights" of these insects and determined them. I should 
be glad to answer any more specific questions at any time. 
AVith regards. I remain. J. C. Neal. 
The second letter is a short note in reply to my question regarding 
the grasses fed upon by the chinch bug, their hibernating habits and 
developments. 
Stillwater, Ok la., November 20, 1895. 
Deab Professor Webster: In reply to your postal, I would say that I do not 
know, but will at once make observations and report at my earliest chance. 
My belief is that the bugs attack all the grass family except the Cenchrus. and 
that only is exempt on account of its bitter taste, which effectually shields it from 
insects, as far as I have seen, both in this section and in Florida. 
I will take the matter in hand at as early a date as possible and write you progress 
and results. 
Very respectfully, J. C. Nkal. 
It is reasonable to infer from these letters that the chinch bug win- 
tered over about the stools of grass, and that the birds were observed 
to attack them there in early spring, as the statement is made that 
later, when the young corn was a foot high, the little bugs came by the 
million. This condition of affairs may be considered in connection with 
the statements of Dr. Asa Fitch,* regarding his observations in Illinois 
in the autumn of 1854, when in passing over the northern part of the 
State he found the ground in some places, in the midst of extensive 
prairies, eovered and swarming with chinch bugs, reminding him. as 
he says, "of the appearance presented on parting the hair on a call' 
that has been poorly wintered, where the skin is found literally alive 
with vermin." Farther along in his report (p. 290 he stares that 
Se< "nd Report on Noxious, Beneficial, and Other Insects .»t New York, p 28 
