252 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
to mo in the outset,) is radically wrong. Tho statement is made that "to put in 
grain crops would only foster the scourge, while to let the ground lie idle may starve 
the rapacious insects into emigrating." 
No, no. Plow and sow, and harrow and roll, spado and ditch the infected spots. 
Aided hy friends, seen and unseen, the plague may ho averted. Take the example of 
tho farmers of the East, who fight the " hated " locust, though it is like contending 
against the wind, at great expense, with coal-oil cans, with gathering machines, with 
firo and water. Failing to fight them here and now, tho creatures may take posses- 
sion and hrced in destructive numhers annually, since this is as natural a breeding 
ground as any other. For some reason the " check " is removed. Let us seek out 
another. Let fortunate farmers not gloat over the temporary advantages to them 
from tho misfortunes of their neighbors, for tho " atrocious " locust is perfectly at 
home here, and may radiate in any direction towards tho most inviting fields. Let 
them rather get into full sympathy with the sufferers, remembering that really in 
calamities of this kind all the community suffers. Let all join as one man to limit, 
cripple, and kill off this common enemy — tho " atrocious locust." 
April 2, 1879. 
Three days after sending you the articles on the Sierra Valley scourge, I received a 
letter from Professor Riley, Chief of the United States Entomological Commission, 
accompanying a box of specimens of tho various migratory species — as I had requested 
in March last. These specimens confirm my determinations as given, that our locust 
is not a true miyratorc. Iu the absence of full descriptions and perfect specimens the 
task of determining what species it was became the more difficult. There is little 
doubt, however, that I have named it correctly, as corroborated by the statements of 
its habits as given by my afflicted neighbors. 
I have at this time several observations to make, derived from a close study of the 
young as they are hatching out. A pan of earth containing a large number of eggs 
in their pockets was brought in during the fine weather in February, and since have 
remained near tho stove, in even temperature. On the 1st of April, the eggs began to 
hatch out, and the microscope, aided by plates and descriptions given in the report of 
tho United States Entomological Commission, has revealed wonders in the early life 
of this terrible plague. 
The young atrox pushes off the upper portion of the shell and the tough chorion or 
inner membrane, like a cap, and emerges by movements maggot-like in action, always 
striving to move upwards. It is still encased in a membrane or mantle (the amnion), 
that fits it like a glove, encasing every organ separately. In pushing its way upward 
to the light and air the little baby — about 20 hundredths of an inch long — is soft and 
pliable, freely turning in every direction. It is able to arrange this tough enveloping 
mantle into loose bands encircling its body; the lower edge of each band being free, 
is alternately expanded with great force, and then contracted. "When expanded the 
outward edges of the inclined bands take hold of the earth, while the insect pushes 
its head upward with great force. Advancing by contracting its body and drawing 
it in a heap towards its head, it next expands, the band edges cope with the earth on 
all sides, while the head is advanced, as before. Arrived at tho surface, the little 
•white fellow lies on its side a moment, as if resting ; then commences a series of con- 
tortions, resulting in the bursting of the mantle on the back of the neck. The slit 
extends soon around to nearly below, the edges sliding back each way, allowing the 
facile creature to emerge, the back of tho neck first. The forward portion is soon 
slipped over the head and face, the antenna? and jaws withdrawn, the white shriveling 
mantle is pushed downward, releasing the legs, and in a few moments the whole is 
kicked off by the hind legs, a small crumpled mass resembling a minute mushroom. 
At first the insect is white and limber, but in the space of an hour becomes black, 
fully hardened, and active. Its eyes and head are relatively very large, its face slop- 
ing inward, with never a sign of a wing, but with sight, hearing, legs and appetite 
wonderfully strong. 
