The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-11-17


year fOr collecting $4,000 pounds II
eggs and insects. In Italy, Hungary
and Spain the Governments pay rewards
for the destruction Of lOcusts or their
eggs.
In Spain they formerly swept the
I young locusts into large heaps with
long brOOms and burned them Eigh
teen thousand bushels were collected in
three weeks, By 5000 men. liz is GER
tain that many kinds Of birds are very
destructive 10 the locust and are his
worst enemy. A bird in India termed
, the grakle Is a great consumer Of the
locust aud its eggs. The grakle is sim
liar 10 our California chenate or black
bird. The inhabitants of India have
killed the grakle 10 almost his eXter-
minatiOn because Of his depredatiOns
upon the young crops; but when this
has been effected a great increase has
occurred of destructive insects and es-
pecially the lOcusts. Some Of the eggs
Of the locust being accidentally intro
duced into the French Island of Bour-
bon, they multiplied so as 10 threaten
the devastation Of the country. The
Government learning the great services
Of the grakle of India, had a number of
pairs imported and distributed over the
islands under the Governments charge.
They bred very fast, and in a few years
the lOcusts were eXterminated. The
grakle then began TO dig the newly
sOwn fields, in search of eggs, when the
I colOnists, concluding that they were de-
yOuring the seed, were alarmed and got
them exterminated by the Government.
In few years they perceived their er-
rOr, for the lOcusts again commenced
their ravages. Upon this the Govern
ment procured new supply Of grakles
and the birds cleared the islands Of To-
Gusts.
There IS a species of birds found in
immense numbers in Russia, Poland
and Lower Egypt, and on the shores of
I the Mediterranean, called the rose-col-
ored blackbird, that feeds on lOcusts
and their eggs and Larvae. l. deyours
incredible numbers in day. The red
winged startling of the Southern Allan
tic States, described by Alexander Viii
son, is another great enemy 10 the To-
Gust. Mr.. Wilson estimates that ?, OOo,-
600 of the startling will consume in
three weeks the enormous amount Of
1920, 900, 900 Of the eggs and larye of
the grasshOPpers.
The large number Of birds found in
our several States are intended as posi-
tive blessings 10 the people, and there
is no doubt that suitable laws should be
passed by all States, and especially
those which are Tavaged by lOcusts or
grasshOppers, for the protection of
birds, especially the starting, blackbird,
lark, crow, jackdaw, stark, and that
the rOse-cOlOred starting and grakle
should be introduced into the Uni ed
States. These birds are very de-
structive enemy TO the lOcusts. They
pursue them at night, when they alight
on the ground. IL should be regarded
as a crime 10 shoot or catch any birds
which show themselves useful to the
inhabitants. In Egypt the ibex was
considered sacred, because il destroyed
reptiles and insects, especially the To-
Gust. France places her chief reliance
for the destruction of lOsusts upon
birds.
| shall not attempt any details of the
prolonged visitation Of the destructive
insects, from which several States are
now suffering. Most of you are doubt
less familiar with the sad experience Of
many localities in your several States,
where the people have suffered contin-
u0usly % the last extremity Of endur-
ance. In my own State the ravages have
thus far been confined 10 compare
lively small belt along our western and
northern borders, but within this area
MANY localities have suffered an almost
total loss of crops 70. four years in sue
cessiOn, and with these people the gues-
ton is fast assuming the vital alterna-
tive of DISCRIMINATING these pests, or Of
bCing exterminated by them. During
the present year, while the total loss
has been little or no greater than in
prior seasons, and less complete de-
structiOn has occurred in any locality,
the insects have laid their eggs in To-
calities not heretofore visited by them,
creating sn apprehension for the future,
such As has never before been expert
enced.
II is a singular fact, although the
grasshOppers or lOcusts have infested
/ various portions of this country, more
or less, nearly every season for the past
\ 100 years, none Of our observing writ
eTs or scientists have made but pass
ing notice of an insect which has caused
this country so much distress by it, ter
rible rayages. The nature and habits
Of the grasshopper should be diligently
observed by cultivatOrs of the soil, and
by the scientific men Of this country.
The General Government should en-
ploy the ablest naturaltists in America
to study and compile for public use the
most searching and complete investiga-
tons into their habits, etc, and the