CO885-(21-23) — Page 24

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

28

Annexure.

REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC SECRETARY FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1912. During the quarter under consideration the work of the office was carried on With for seven weeks by Mr. J. J. Simpson, during my absence in the West Indies. the exception of a few matters which had to be held over unavoidably until my return, I have found that the current work had been kept up to date in a most satisfactory manner. The only serious delay occurred in connection with the preparation of the first part of the new volume of the Bulletin, which was published a good deal later than usual.

The influx of material during these three months was very considerable, principally owing to the large collections which were sent by Mr. Neave from Uganda. The total number of specimens recorded in our register for this period is 31,800, among which there were over 5,000 blood-sucking flies and 6,000 ticks. The marked increase in the number of individual contributors recorded for the previous quarter has been fully maintained, there having been 35 in the present quarter, as compared with 34. This naturally involves a corresponding increase in the work of identification, as well as in the general clerical work.

During the past financial year 112 lists of identifications have been issued, each list comprising on an average about 15 species. In the case of blood-sucking insects, a duplicate list is invariably sent to the Principal Medical Officer of the Colony or Protectorate from which the collection has been sent, together with the complete information as to locality, date, &c., received with every specimen. These lists should eventually constitute a very useful local record of potential or actual disease- carriers.

In the case of ticks, every specimen has been submitted to Professor Nuttall and Mr. Warburton, who have identified the material with most commendable prompti- tude. In a similar manner Mr. Charles Rothschild has kindly authenticated every individual flea and bed-bug which we have received; and Professor Newstead has named the whole of our scale-insects. With the other orders it has been thought advisable not to burden the various specialists with masses of unsorted material, and therefore the bulk of the identification has been done by myself, and only the apparently new or difficult species have been referred to specialists. Mr. Austen has always afforded the most courteous assistance in connection with the many specimens of blood-sucking flies which have been referred to him, and has described a number of new species from the Committee's collections; while Mr. F. W. Edwards, of the British Museum, has given invaluable aid with the mosquitos, of which he now has a very thorough knowledge. We are also indebted to a number of distinguished Continental entomologists for much gratuitous help. As some indication of the work done by the various specialists, it may be mentioned that during the year the types of 101 new species have been presented to the British Museum. The specimens, excluding biting flies, presented to that institution during this period totalled over 79,000.

There seems every prospect that the demand for the identification of insects other than blood-sucking flies is likely to increase a good deal in the near future, and some assistance with the purely entomological work will be necessary if this demand is to be adequately met. Already several small consignments have been sent in from the West Indies, namely, from the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and from Trinidad and Barbados. Moreover, the Economic Entomologists who have recently been appointed in Nyasaland, Southern Nigeria, and the Gold Coast, are likely to need a good deal of information in this direction. Finally, it may be mentioned that the Entomologist to the Egyptian Government has recently written to Dr. Shipley asking whether he could arrange to send insects to the Committee to be named. The matter was referred to Lord Cromer, who very kindly wrote personally to Lord Kitchener on the subject, with the result that provision will be made for the payment by the Egyptian Government of a contribution of £50 to the Committee's funds, in order that their Entomologist may make use of our organisation.

The usual statements have been circulated showing the revenue and expenditure for the quarter, and also the general financial position as at the 31st March last. It will be noted that a sum of nearly £49 has been received in respect of collecting outfits issued to various African Colonies; the amounts due under this head have now been almost entirely refunded. After making full provision for all outstanding

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liabilities the net reserve balance in hand at the end of the year is shown to be £1,364. A sum of £34 15s. Od. has already been expended in connection with the despatch of Mr. Strickland to the Federated Malay States, leaving an estimated liability under this head of £275.

A statement has also been submitted showing the position of affairs with regard to our Carnegie Fund. The scholarships allotted to Mr. A. Rutherford and Mr. E. H. Strickland will terminate at the end of this calendar year, and after providing for all probable expenditure on their account a sum of £392 will be left in hand. If the offer of two scholarships for six months, which has been made to the West Indies, be accepted, these will involve a further expenditure of £340, leaving about £50 over for contingencies.

Mr. Simpson is still in Sierra Leone, but nothing has been heard from him for a good many weeks past, as he has been out of touch with postal communications. Mr. Neave returned from East Africa last month, having completed his preliminary tour through all the Protectorates. He will be returning to Africa on the 12th September next, and it is desirable that the Committee should decide as soon as possible what his future course of action should be, in order that he may have ample time to make all the necessary arrangements. It would also be a matter of con- venience if the Committee could at once vote the money required for the renewal of his camp and scientific outfits.

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE.

(Tropical Africa.)

Statement of revenue and expenditure for quarter ending 31st March, 1912.

Salaries

Travelling expenses

Carnegie scholarships

General expenses

Payments. Receipts.

£ 9. d. £ s. d.

366 7 6

28 6 9

Federated Malay States expedition

34 15 0

282 4 11

5 11 5

95 10 4

42 15

9

48 18 11

12 17 3

500 0

0

Publications

Scientific equipments-refunds from vari-

ous Colonies

Interest Government grants

£812 15 11 £604 11 11

Financial statement in respect of the Carnegie scholarships as at 31st March, 1912

£

s. d.

Grant from Mr. Carnegie for 1911 and

1912.

£ s. d.

2,000 0 0

Passages and allowances paid to

31st March

992 12 9

375 0 0

Passages due to Messrs. Rutherford and Strickland to end of 1912 Travelling expenses in the United

States

Return passages for Messrs. Ruther-

ford and Strickland

Estimated balance

200 0 0

40 0 0 392 7 3

£2,000 0 0 £2,000 0 0

30

General financial statement, as at 31st March, 1912.