TSETSE FLIES.
SOME OF THE POINTS ON WHICH OBSERVATIONS ARE WANTED.
1. Locality.-Name of colony and nearest
Jake, &c.
station, river,
(It is not possible in England to identify native villages.)
2. Where caught.—On road, at ford, in village, close to village,
far from human habitation, on railway, &c.
3. Aititude, if known.
4. Time of day.—(If caught at night, ? moonlight.)
5. Nature of country.-River bank, grassy plain, dense forest,
thorny scrub, &c.
6. Presence or absence of water.
7. Dry or wet season.-(State whether the grass or scrub is
bred in the dry season.)
8. Presence of more than one species.--(This is easily overlooked
as some species bear a close resemblance.)
9. Number of fly.-(IIalf a dozen, numerous, very numerous,
swarms, &c.)
10. Ratio of the sexes.Males usually outnumber females.)
11. Do the flies bite through clothes?
12. Have you observed any bird or insect preying on the flies?
13. Do the flies go to the water to drink?
14. Are cattle, sheep, goats, or horses kept in the fly region?
15. Presence or absence of sleeping sickness.
Observations carried on month after month at one spot are of more value than spasmodic research in diverse districts.
DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING COLEOPTERA (BEETLES).
COLLECTING.-Beetles are generally of ubiquitous occurrence in the Tropics, and may be found on flowers, under bark, in rotton wood, in decaying animal and vegetable matter, in water, under stones, under moist dead leaves, in fungi, at the roots of grass (especially in damp places), in the nests of ants and termites, &c. Large numbers may be obtained by sweeping herbage and by beating branches of trees over a large net.
Many destructive chafers (Melolonthidae and Rutelidae) are noc- turnal, and may be found at dusk on flowers, or flying in swarms round trees and bushes; they may also be attracted by light. Destructive nocturnal ground-beetles may be captured in numbers by digging trenches, with the sides clean-cut and sloping, so as to prevent escape. In sandy places a tin sunk flush with the ground, will often serve as a useful trap. When firewood is being chopped
(11-69-2.) Wt. 23967-377. 10. 12/09. D & S.
J J