246 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
out at tho inner margin about one-third tho length from the tip; the costal area i» 
marked with from one to three dark brown or fuscous spots, the one next the base 
and opposite the costal angle the largest, one or both the others, which are small, 
often wanting; the discal or middle marked with rather largo spots -of the same 
kind, which are somewhat transverse, and fading toward the apex where they are ob- 
literated. Wings pellucid, veins and veinlets of the outer (anterior when spread) 
half dark, except the strong subcostal vein, which is white or pale yellow ; those of 
tho inner half mostly yellowish. Posterior femora varying in color from dull yellow 
to brown ; usually, but not always, marked externally with two oblique brownish 
bands. Posterior tibim yellowish. 
THE LOCUST IN CALIFORNIA IN 1878. 
The following extracts will give an idea of the injury in 1878* 
This valley has been infested by locusts increasing so much of late as to totally 
destroy the crops and striko terror to the inhabitants. While botanizing here two 
years ago, I collected specimens of various locusts and sent them to the Academy of 
Sciences, at San Francisco. No report. Last season I was absent in Southern Cali- 
fornia, so I have no specimens of the locusts that devastated this valley, and whoso 
eggs are thickly deposited on many of the sunny knolls. 
I think these locusts come from the desert northeast of us by easy 6tages, yearly. 
This valley lies in latitude 39° 40' north, and longitude 129° 30' west, at an altitude 
of about 5,000 feet. 
As this valley, 35 miles long by half as wide, lies in the Sierra Nevada, to the west 
of one of its loftiest chains, it will be interesting to know if the true C. aprctus is the 
locust that is devouring our herbage. 
To perfectly understand the problem, it is fair to state that the valley is connected 
to the great basin through this Sierra barrier by the low pass of Beckwourth, though 
the locusts did not come through it, but, as supposed, they came eating their way 
from over the ridge to tho northward as stated. 
I will in due time send forward specimens of the species here, with notes of their 
habits, ravages, &c. 
The excellent and useful report of your Commission (First Annual Report United 
States Entomological Commission, 1877), is in my hands. Wish I knew whether it 
was advisable to exhort the farmers to fight the pest- with coal-oil and machinery. 
They have bred here for three years, and seem on the increase. Eat up grain and 
late grass. Last year damage estimated at §30,000 in a population of 2,000. — [J. G. 
Lemmon in a letter to C. V. Riley, March 10, 1879. 
Grasshoppers IN Sierra. Valley. — Reno Journal, July 8: A gentleman in from 
Sierra Valley informs us that the grasshoppers are destroying a great deal of grain in 
the valley. Out of one field, from which 400 tons ought to have been cut, only 150 tons 
were left, and even this was saved by the exertions of the farmers. The hoppers are 
now all in the north end of the valley, but when this is all eaten up they will no 
doubt turn their attention to the lower end. They rise in such clouds that the sun 
is darkened, and shortly after they light on a field nothing is left but a mass of un- 
sightly stalks. They do not touch the wet land, nor will they touch the hay after it 
is cut and cured. Cases are cited where the insects have gone just ahead of the 
mowers and destroyed the majority of the grain. In one such case, out of 200 tons 
only 25 were saved. Dairymen are suffering considerably because their grazing lands 
are being destroyed, and this, with the low price of butter, is causing many to leave 
that business entirely. Probably one-half of the entire crop of the valley will be lost. 
Fortunately 2,000 tons of hay was carried over from last year. This will keep the 
price this year about as usual, but next year it is likely a notable advance in the price 
will be apparent. The grasshoppers have possession of Sierra Valley, and what is 
