137 
cient insect aids are doubtless the true parasitic flies. These are 
chiefly Tachina-flies, which deposit their eggs on the body of the lo¬ 
cust, usually near the base of the wings, where they are out of reach, 
and where the external membrane is the most delicate. As soon as 
hatched the maggots eat their way into the body of their victim, 
where, as is usual with internal parasites, they feed upon the fatty 
portions without disturbing the vital organs; before entering they 
leave their host and go into the ground, where they remain until they 
reach the perfect state. These flies, to the casual observer, appear 
much like the common house-fly, but are slightly larger. 
Another and very singular enemy of locusts, and acts as an inter¬ 
nal parasite, is the Hair-worm, a species of Gordins. 
Our space and time does not permit us to describe and give the 
history of these various parasites at this time. This will be done as 
occasion may require, when attention is called to particular species of 
locusts or other insects which they infest; at present I am confining 
this part of my report to a general account of the Illinois Acrididw. 
Remedies .—It is difficult to suggest any practicable; remedies, except 
where these insects become so abundant as to justify the employment 
of means that will require considerable outlay. 
Various means are used and several different machines have been 
invented for capturing and destroying the unfledged insects. But it 
seldom happens that the damage done by these insects is sufficient in 
this state to justify this expense, as it does in the more western states 
in contending with the migratory species of that region. 
The best practical remedy for Illinois farmers is, as I conceive, of a 
wholly different character, but one that it appears impossible to put 
into operation. This is to protect more effectually insect-eating birds. 
I am aware that it is becoming almost unpopular, especially among a 
large number of our fruit-growers, to speak a word in praise of the 
birds. But even at the risk of being considered somewhat of an “old 
fogy,” and of having “bird on the brain,” I must contend that here 
lies one of the great remedial agencies for our farmers. I am willing 
to concede that the introduction of the English sparrow has proven a 
failure; but the evidence obtained in 1877 of the usefulness of birds 
in destroying locusts in th6 western states, is so conclusive that it 
ought to be sufficient to convince the most skeptical. That any gen¬ 
eral measure will not bear equally on all will always be true; that 
by preserving the birds our fruit-growers may and doubtless will suffer 
occasionally from their attacks is true; but in the long run I believe 
even they will be greatly the gainers. 
Quite a large number of our insect-eating birds feed with avidity 
on the young locusts and destroy immense numbers of them. The 
yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus ieterocephalus ), as well as 
other species of blackbirds, are perhaps the most efficient aids among 
the feathered tribes in destroying grasshoppers; and yet these are 
birds for which farmers have a particular dislike. Quails are also 
very useful in this respect. But strange as it may appear a large 
majority of our farmers will willingly pay out fifty or a hundred 
dollars or even more in protecting their crops by destroying insects 
with machinery or applications, rather than suffer half that loss by 
birds, which would do the same work for them and far more effect¬ 
ually. The reason for this is that in the one case the destruction of 
the insects is apparent to them, a mere matter of ocular demonstration, 
