beral Ko.
Despatch
From or to whom,
No., to.
(Date.
Subject.
Page.
1911.
105
To the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture
for
November 9
the West Indies.
Informs him that the Committee accept his offer of co-operation and approve of the proposals put forward in No. 81.
173
424
106
To the High Com-
missioner.
Malay States,
November 10
396.
States that the Committee have decided to accept the proposal made in No. 89 and that they will take steps to select
173
a suitable officer for the purpose.
CORRESPONDENCE
RELATING TO
ENTOMOLOGICAL
107
To the Acting Gov-
Leeward November 10 | States, in roply to No. 87, that the
174
ernor.
Islands,
Miscel-
laneous.
Entomological Research Committee have decided to accept the offer of co-operation made in No. 81.
108
Ditto
British November 10
Hon-
duras,
Miscel-
States that the Committee will be glad to accept the offer of co-operation made in No. 90 on the part of the Colonial Surgeon.
174
3541
laneous.
RESEARCH.
No. 1.
}
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
109
To the Governor... Barbados. November 10
110
Ditto
Miscel- laneous
States that the Committee are glad to accept the offer of the Local Com- mittee in No. 97, and that the only modification necessary in their pro- posals is that, for the present at any rate, the Entomological Committee can only undertake the identification of insects of economic importance; encloses copies of "Instructions to Collectors" and gives directions for the forwarding of specimens.
174
DR. W. M. GRAHAM to MR. READ (COLONIAL OFFICE).
DEAR MR. READ,
(Received 7 January, 1909.)
35, Westlourne Terrace, Hyde Park, 7th January, 1909.
You ask for a memorandum setting forth my views upon entomological research
on the West African Coast. I shall deal only with important points, and for the
sake of clearness I shall divide them into two categories,——
+
1st. What requires doing.
2nd. How results are to be compassed.
(a) The collection and classification of all insects, but especially of biting
insects.
(b) The recording of their geographical range, and of their seasonal pre-
valence.
(c) The investigation of their habits, natural enemies, food, &c.
(a) All insects must be collected, as it is impossible for any but an expert in the particular fauna to know whether an insect be a biting one or not until the insect has been very carefully examined.
(b) The collector has only to record the place and date of capture to render it -possible in time to establish the range and seasonal prevalence.
111
To the Acting Gov.
ernor.
Trinidad, November 10
Miscel- laneous.
British Guiana, Miscel- laneous.
States that the Committee will await the definite proposals promised in No. 101.
175
1st. What.
November 10 States, with reference to Nos. 82 and 104, that the Committee propose to await a further communication from him.
175
112
Ditto
Wind- ward Islands,
November 11
Miscel-
laneous.
States that the Committee have decided to adopt the proposals put forward by the Commissioner of Agriculture in No. 81, and to accept the offer of assistance of Dr. L. Nicholls.
175
113
The Acting Gov-
ernor.
Fiji, 267.
October 26 (Rec. Nov. 28.)
114
Entomological Re- search Committee (Selection Sub- Committee).
November 30
States what the Government Entomo. logist has been doing; considers that any funds the Colony may be able to provide for entomological research should be devoted to economic in- vestigation on the lines indicated, but that the Colony should subscribe to the Journal of the Committee.
Minutes of meeting
176
177
115
The Governor-Gen-
eral.
Canada, November 22 612. (Rec. Dec. 4.)
Forwards, with reference to No. 96, Privy Council Minute stating that Dr. Gordon Hewitt, the Dominion Entomologist, is proceeding to England to obtain the fullest information as to the scheme.
177
116
The Governor
Queens- land, 71.
November 11 (Rec. Dec. 18.)
Reports, with reference to No. 90, that Queensland will contribute £50 per
179
annum.
(c) The third investigation is unlikely to be carried out successfully by any but an expert, but is of great importance. For example, thousands of pounds are now being spent upon the draining of salt lagoons with the object of diminishing malaria by abolishing the breeding grounds of certain mosquitos. Were it proved that anopheline mosquitos do not lay eggs upon water containing more than a certain percentage of salt, or that eggs laid upon such water do not develop, the drainage of such areas would be known to be futile, and the money would be devoted to a better purpose.
Library. It is of great importance that a library of books of reference should be formed at once. Some very valuable books upon the Indian fauna which would enable one to identify African insects down to genus could be had from the Indian Government for the asking, such as Colonel Bingham's Hymenoptera of British India, 2 vols., Mr. Distant's Rhynchota of British India, 4 vols. 2nd. How.
(a) The work should be done by the medical officers. They, only, have a train- ing in allied subjects, and many have had some entomological training at a school of tropical medicine.
There is always a difficulty in inducing medical officers to do any work outside their daily routine duty, and at certain periods when shorthanded, ill, or busy, there
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