Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-16

vouring 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 species of birds found in
immense numbers in Russia, Poland
and Lower Egypt, and on the shores of
the Mediterranean, called the rose-col-
ored blackbird, that feeds on locusts
and their eggs and Larvae. It devours
incredible numbers in day. The red
winged startling of the Southern Allan
tic States, described by Alexander Viii
son, is another great enemy to the To-.
Gust. Mr.. Wilson estimates that 2 ,U00,-
900 of the startling will consume in
three weeks the enormous amount of
16, ,2OO, 100000 of the eggs and Larvae of
the grasshoppers.
The large number of birds found in
our several States are intended as posi-
tive blessings to the people, and there
| is no doubt that suitable laws should be
passed by all States, and especially
those which are ravaged by locusts or
/
| birds, especially the startling, ,blackbird,
lark, crow, jackdaw, stark, and that
the rose-colored starting and grakle
should be introduced into the Uni ed
States. These birds are a very de-
pursue them at night, when they alight
on the ground. It should be regarded
as a crime to shoot or catch any birds
| of,,I TO bD
inhabitants. In Egypt the ibex was
considered sacred, because it destroyed
reptiles and insects, especially the To-
Gust. France places her chief reliance
for the destruction of loeusts 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-
uously to the last extremity of endur
ance. In my own State the rayages have
thus far been confined to a compare
lively small belt along our western and
northern borders, but within this area
manv localities have suffered an almost
total loss of crops for four years in sue
cession, and with these people the ques-
ton is fast assuming the vital alterna-
tive of exterminating these pests, or of
being 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 an apprehension for the future,
such as has never before been expert
enced.
1t 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
ers or scientists have made but a pass
ing notice of an insect which has caused
this country SO much distress by its ter
rible ravages. 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
tiOns into their habits, etc, and the
best methods of checking their increase
and thwarting their ravages. The most
illustrious nations of the world have
not disdained to devote their time and
means to the destruction of this perni-
cious insect; and it surely becomes our
nation, which prides tselfupon its prac-
tical sagacity, to give timely heed to
problem upon the solution of which
depends so largely the primary sources
of its prosperity.