. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. Fig. 4. X^.. was attached a hoop of an elliptical shape. To the two opposite edges of the hoop, at the place of the greatest curve, cords were fast- ened. Grown persons or children, by taking hold of the cords, drag- ged the sack along as rapidly as possible, almost touching the ground. The locusts that fell in were trampled on with the feet. The dead insects were then thrown out and tbe catching recommenced. A still better apparatus, em- p
. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. Fig. 4. X^.. was attached a hoop of an elliptical shape. To the two opposite edges of the hoop, at the place of the greatest curve, cords were fast- ened. Grown persons or children, by taking hold of the cords, drag- ged the sack along as rapidly as possible, almost touching the ground. The locusts that fell in were trampled on with the feet. The dead insects were then thrown out and tbe catching recommenced. A still better apparatus, em- ployed with great success in the south of France, consists of a sack growing narrower towards the bottom and fas- tened to a pole in the manner i employed by entomologists, f According to Solier, an ordi-; nary boy with this contri-; vance will catch not less than ', 50 kilograms, which is at least ten times as much as by any of the preceding meth- ods.* This hunt for the wingless locusts is undertaken in May or June. The American writer, Harris, recommends that all the grass and grain should be mowed in those months in which the young locusts make their appearance, thus destroying them by hunger; inasmuch as at that time they are feeble and unable to migrate far in search of food. Besides, they lose the power of sheltering themselves from the weather, and soon perish from cold and storms. All the methods described are of incontestable utility, and have often proved so in practice. But unfortunately they are not always carried out with the necessary exactness, at the proper time, and under the circumstances indicated. By reason of the carelessness which seems inherent in so many people, they undertake the destruc- tion of the locusts Avhen they are already, so to speak, at the husband- man's door. No one observes or wishes to observe the place where the locusts lay their eggs in the spring, or the time of their hatching, because then tliey do no injury. They do not know or care
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