There are certain frequently observed and rather mysterious phenomena associated with the bionomics of the better known species of Glossina; such, for example, as the local disparity between the sexes and the apparently arbitrary distribution of the fly. It is difficult, if not impossible, to explain these, or at least no explanation has yet been put forward which is wholly in agreement with all that has been recorded of the subject. It appears necessary in consequence to consider some part of the generally accepted bionomic history of these liies as being based on insufficient evidence.

The genus Leicesteria was founded by Theobald in 1904 (Entomologist, xxxvii, p. 211) for a species of mosquito found by Dr. G. F. Leicester in the Malay States, the most remarkable character of which was the great length of the female palpi, a condition known otherwise among the Culicidae only in Anopheles, Megarhinus and Mucidus, all genera to which the new species was obviously unrelated. Subsequently Dr. Leicester* placed on record his discovery of four other species essentially similar to Theobald's Leicesteria longipalpis; for one of these he created the new genus Chaetomyia. Additional species referable to the genus have since been described by Theobald.†

The following report is the fourth of a series dealing with the blood-sucking insects which are or may be implicated in the transmission of disease in man and other animals. The previous reports have appeared in different issues of this Bulletin* and should be consulted in conjunction with this, as many aspects of a general character, which are equally applicable to all West African Colonies, have been discussed there and need not therefore be reiterated here.

With the rapid development of Northern Nigeria, following the British administration and the completion of the railway from Lagos to Kano, problems hitherto of minor importance are continually coming into prominence. Amongst these the abatement of trypanosomiasis is a matter of medical and entomological interest. As the confidence of the people grows there is an increase of intercommunication, which inevitably involves a danger of the spread of such diseases as sleeping sickness from existing foci. In Northern Nigeria these foci are at present peculiarly isolated, but they will gradually lose their isolation as the efforts made to stimulate the agricultural development of the country meet with greater success and the growing demand for roads, feeders for the railway, and better means of transport, is satisfied. In a densely populated and naturally fertile country like Ilorin the problem of avoiding this danger is particularly insistent, but unfortunately also particularly difficult. In the neighbouring province of Kabba sleeping sickness is said to be endemic, and might readily move westwards with the opening up of the interior ; and in a large part of the province of Ilorin itself tsetse-flies already spread disease amongst the cattle and horses to such an extent that these animals cannot live. Nevertheless, during the dry season, herds of cattle pass, day after day, in an almost continuous stream along the highroads on their way to Lagos from the north. How many die on the journey no one can tell, for the fate of those that sicken is to be butchered by the way, and it is a common experience to come across a carcase hewn up and laid out for sale by the road-side (Pl. I, fig. 1).

A short stay on the island of Upolu, German Samoa, during the summer of 1913, afforded an opportunity to make a few observations on mosquitos and flies, which I wish to record. As practically all my time was taken up with another problem, only fragmentary notes could be made on these insects.

The account of the entomological work carried out by the writer in Southern Nigeria falls naturally into three sections, October-December 1911, January-June 1912, and June-October 1912. During the first period, work, principally on cotton pests, was carried on at the Agricultural Headquarters, Ibadan, particular attention being devoted to the Red Cotton Stainer Bug. The second period was given to travel (fig. 1), when the entomological problems of the different districts were studied on the spot, and lectures were given en route to meetings of native chiefs, native agricultural societies, schools and school teachers. The third period was spent in dealing with the insects of nursery cocoa, cotton, maize and yam. Lectures and demonstrations were given to agricultural pupils. A small amount of work with insecticides was attempted. In conjunction with the Mycologist, rules were formulated for conducting the three first Fumigatoria of the Colony.

The following are a few observations made on the larvae of Auchmeromyia luteola taken in Uganda. The larvae were kept in glass-topped cardboard boxes containing earth. Several attempts were made to feed them on the less hairy parts of puppies but in no case did they make any attempt to draw blood. I then placed some on my own hand. In only one instance was this successful, the details of the feeding being described below.

Meat, crushed ticks, bananas were placed in the boxes at various times, but so far as could be gathered, they were left untouched. By dampening the earth with water every few days larvae were kept alive up to a month. They would probably have lived longer were it not that the exigencies of constant travelling caused their neglect. The small immature larvae however did not seem to grow, those which pupated having been mature, or almost so, at the time of capture. The longest period between capture and pupation was 12 days, and this larva was full of blood when taken and two days later its alimentary tract was still red with blood.

In a highly interesting article in a previous number of this journal (vol. iii, p. 343) J. Dewitz discussed “The bearing of physiology on economic entomology,” and gave in this connection, amongst other things, an account of the various kinds of tropisms and their use, besides which he also pointed out the necessity for studying these for the purpose of discovering weapons for fighting noxious insects. It strikes me, however, as if the importance of chemotropism had not been emphasised in this survey as in my opinion it ought to have been, and the purpose of these modest lines is partly to draw attention to two important researches in this branch of science, recently carried out independently of each other, partly to point out that with the aid of chemotropism we shall in all probability be able to discover new weapons for the fight against noxious insects.

For the past two years the writer has studied the Oriental CULICIDAB at intervals, with a view to preparing a tabular synopsis of the species. During this time it has become evident that a large number of names will have to be rejected or changed in some way, and it seems desirable to call attention at once to some of these proposed changes, as it will inevitably be a considerable time before the thorough revision of the Oriental mosquitos which the writer has in view can be published. The present paper is intended merely to deal with nomenclatorial questions, points of systematic interest being introduced only in so far as they are necessary to explain or justify the writer's conclusions. The classification here indicated may be taken as approximately final, but the limits of certain genera and their arrangement may ultimately require modification, while their number may not improbably have to be reduced. Over 80 specific names are here for the first time definitely sunk, while the probable synonymy of 8 or 10 others is suggested. On the other hand two new names are proposed owing to the preoccupation of the original designation of the species.

Ovisac formed of thickly felted creamy-white to buff-white secretion ; dorsum highly convex longitudinally and slightly so transversely, with a series of 11 longitudinal and crenulated keels or ridges, of which the lateral ones are very broad and flange-like and arise from points on the body of the female considerably nearer the middle line than any of the others ; sides vertical, with two or three curved or concentric keels similar to those on the dorsum, but there are also small transverse intervening lines which give the sides of the ovisac a distinctly conchoidal appearance ; interior of ovisac smooth. Length, 6·50 to 8·50 mm. ; height, 6 to 7·50 mm. ; width, 6 to 7·25 mm. Old adult female tilted as in Pulvinaria so that the front, which is distinctly produced, is the only portion attached to the food-plant. In some instances the position of the body is almost vertical, and in one example the anal portion projects actually slightly in front of the cephalic margin. Dorsum with a median elongated patch of opaque glassy secretion, the rest nude and dark brown in colour.

Leaving the Government post on the Amala river, at an altitude of 5,500 feet, on 25th July, I moved down the west bank of the river and camped at a spring known as Ol-otu-lomot, at an altitude of 5,200 feet (see accompanying sketch-map). The next day I moved further down the river in search of an old Masai native, by name Ol-botor-ol-joni, who was reported to be familiar with the places in which tsetse-fly (Endorobo of the Masai) was to be found. I found this old man at the place marked on the map and camped there at an altitude of 5,100 feet.

This parasite approaches Neumann's Haematopinus (Polyplax) maniculatus, but is immediately recognised by the truncate proboscis, by the “ olecranon process ” of the hind pair of legs, and by the remarkable “ comb ” which terminates the abdomen of the ♀. Perhaps a new genus should be made to receive it.

Linear, abdomen about four times the length of the head and thorax together. Head very broad, proboscis truncate, its lateral margins diverging to as far as the antennae, behind which the head enlarges at right angles. Post-antennal area rectangular, broad ; the occipital margin a little convex. At each posterior angle a long hair ; on the under surface, at about the level of the antennae, two short bristles, one on each side. Antennae of five segments, the first being thick and stout, the second narrower and the longest, the third short, and the fourth broad with a sharp prominence at the post-axial distal corner. Adjoining the prominence a small circular sense-organ which crosses the joint and occupies part of the base of the terminal segment. The latter is longer than the third or fourth, and has several spines at the end. Thorax broader than the head and broader behind than in front. A large flattened spheroidal spiracle at each lateral margin.

The first time that this beetle proved itself to be a pest of coffee to any great extent in this country was on native coffee, Coffea robusta, in the Chagwe District, in 1910, at which time I began to investigate it. Since the first outbreak it has been found attacking C. arabica on several estates. Some of the estates have suffered serious damage, especially the older ones which are badly affected by the coffee leaf-disease, Hemeleia vastatrix. With a single exception, I have been able to trace the origin of the outbreak to plots in which leafdisease was already present and in which, consequently, the trees were the least vigorous.

The subject which I propose to introduce is one which is of such very great importance in agricultural practice in different parts of the world that I trust it may not be out of place to give a brief account of the experiments in connexion with it, which we have been conducting in Egypt and which, although still incomplete, indicate very favourable results.

The following notes consist of corrections and additions to my previous papers on African Culicidae. Several errors have become apparent, due either to carelessness or insufficient study of the material available, or insufficiency of the material itself. These are corrected. One or two apparently new species have been received and are now described ; the description of one or two others, owing to the scanty material and doubtful systematic position, is left for a future paper.

The types of the seven new species described in the following pages are in the British Museum (Natural History). The subjoined list shows the countries in which the species have been obtained.

Uganda is a particularly favourable country for the development of insect life, as vegetation grows very luxuriantly and there is no great variation of temperature for any length of time, and insect growth and1 multiplication are therefore continuous throughout the year. This is especially true with regard to the COCCIDAE.