Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-11-08
TIE CHRISTOPHER PEST.

A letter from Greely, Colorado, TO
the Springfield Republican, gives an ac-
count Of the origin and habits Of the
grasshoppers in that State at is now
pretty well settled that they originate
in two widely separated regions. First,
for the last four years previous to this,
they came over the Snowy range, hav.
ing southcastward course, and it has
been presumed that their Matching
grounds were in the Salt Lake basin
and on the sandy downs and ridges Of
western Colorado. But these regions
are so vast and so seldom visited that
no statement except Of quite general
nature can be depended upon, and
close observation through several years
will be required to obtain ihe exact
fact. They have also Matching gSounds
in Montana and Idaho, they fly cast
ward into the Black Hills country and
Dakota, thence into Minnesota and
Iowa, while other swarms precipitate
themselves upon Nebraska, Missouri
and Kansas. Thus they occupy, with
some intermission, the whole of the
vast region between the Sierra Nevadas
and the Missouri river, an area of 1900
miles square The number Of grass.
hoppers seen to pass q given point, or
which alights in valley, is beyond
conception. While flying, they are
most distinctly seen about noon. They
fill space perhaps 200 feet deep and
20 miles broad, and they are usually
from one hour to two hours and half
in passing; when they drop down in
a valley they do so just before noon
at first, they are what seem to be
few snow-fakes-their white wings
and their slanting descent resembling
flakes of snow; presently they como
thicker and then thicker; often they
strike on ones face or hands like rap.
idly falling hail, and there have been
many times in the canons Of the noun
tains, on roads leading to mining towns,
when it was necessary tor teams to 60
into camp by the way.side, Oh account
of the impossibility OF driving the
horses. The object of alighting is, that
they may rest or obtain food. If es-
pecially weary, they lie idly for few
hours and then 60 to eating. If hun.
cry, they 60 to eating at once.
"The first appearance Of flying grass
hoppers in Colorado is almost always
in the latter part of August, but, this
year. they came on the first of the
month, and they were extremely hun
cry, more so than ever before known.
They stayed three days, and during
this time they ate the leaves of cotton
wood trees, which usually they do not
like; they even ate some of the box
elder leaves, which they like still less.
Apple and pear trees were stripped,
eabbages disappeared, onions were ac-
tually dug out OF the ground, and the
general run of garden vegetables was
destroyed Peas they never touch,
neither do they squashes until they
have taken everything else, and, usual
ly, large patches OF cucumbers and
melons are left. Peach trees are never
eaten. The writer of this had fine
piece of clover on which they alighted
so thickly that no green was 10 be
seen, and the prevailing color was the
silvery white Of their wings, mixed
with the brown of their bodies. As it
was fit to cut, it was speedily laid low,
and then in stirring it, so that it might
wilt and be less Juicy, there seemed
fully as much weight and bulk OF
grasshoppers as of clover, though it
was so heavy that when green there
were not less than five tons to the
acre. AT the time of their arrival, all
the wheat was in such forward state
that these insects did it no injury, so
of most other small grains. But
field of green corn is a favorite dish
with them, and sweet corn is quickly
destroyed, so also every kind of yellow
or Dent corn. But the white variety,
known here as the white Australian,
which is an excellent sort, and yields
well, is fron-clad, owing probably to
in its flavor"