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(iii) That investigations should be confined for the present to the morsitans

group. (iv) That, in the first instance, not less than six entomologists should be detailed for various parts of Africa, and that these must give their whole time to the work.

(v) That the period over which the inquiries should be conducted ought to be

at least five years.

(vi) That the Director of the Bureau should go into the question of selecting

suitable places for the investigations and frame suggestions. (vii) That, in order to ensure adequate provision for salaries, equipment, travelling expenses, etc., a sum of not less than £50,000 should be raised. (viii) That the Director of the Bureau should, in consultation with the expert members of the Sub-Committee, draw up a provisional statement showing the nature of the inquiries to be made and possible methods for arriving at the information required, and then ascertain the views of Mr. W. F. Fiske and other entomologists now working on Glossina in the field, before a final statement is prepared.

3. In arriving at recommendations (i) and (ii), the Sub-Committee were strongly influenced by the consideration that, up to now, although commissions have been sent to Africa and numerous investigations have been conducted at no little expense to the African Colonies and Protectorates in which work has been carried out, the practical results are not apparent, and that, while very valuable informa- tion has been obtained, it is essential to aim now at achieving results which will be definite in their character and of practical benefit to the European and native populations in Africa. Action should, therefore, primarily be taken to seek means cf exterminating the fly, or at least removing the danger from the fly, with a view to opening up country to settlement.

4. In arriving at recommendation (iii), the Sub-Committee were influenced by the considerations that, while much has been done in respect of G. palpalis, very little has been done in respect of G. morsitans and G. pallidipes; that it has now been proved that human beings can live in areas where there are G. palpalis, with- out contracting trypanosomiasis, whereas there is apparently no such safety from infection for stock in G. morsitans areas; that G. morsitans and allied species of tsetse, which are very widely distributed, are thus locking up large areas of country, and so under present conditions are actually more harmful to progress and settlement both for Europeans and natives than G. palpalis.

5. Certain suggestions submitted by Major Austen as to the nature of inquiries These will be which might be made were communicated to the Sub-Committee. taken into consideration in the preparation of the provisional statement referred to in recommendation (viii.).

6. Professor Newstead proposed that the Director should communicate with Dr. Schwetz, who is coming to this country in January, and with Dr. Severin at Brussels, who would be keenly interested in the work contemplated, and might be able to assist with advice and suggestions. The Sub-Committee agreed; but it was decided to postpone for the present the question of seeking officially the co- operation of foreign Governments.

7. Professor Newstead referred to the recently published experiments per- formed by Dr. Taute in German East Africa. He stated that this investigator had inoculated one hundred and twenty-nine natives as well as two Europeans with blood taken from big game which contained a dimorphic trypanosome of the T. brucei type of human trypanosomiasis, and that in every case the result of inoculation was negative.

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No. 98.

MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE SUB- COMMITTEE OF THE IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, held AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON 9TH DECEMBER, 1919.

1.

Present:

SIR H. READ (Chairman)

Dr. BagsHAWE.

MR. FRYER.

DR. HARMER.

PROFESSOR NEWSTEAD.

PROFESSOR POULTON.

SIR D. PRAIN.

DR. MARSHALL.

DR. NEAVE.

MR. PARKINSON (Secretary).

THE Chairman stated that Dr. Shipley and Mr. Rothschild were unable to attend the meeting, but that Dr. Shipley had written to say that he had seen Professor Gardiner and hoped to ask a party of the Entomologists to Cambridge, and that perhaps a similar party might be arranged for Oxford.

2. Dr. Marshall read letters received from Dr. Gordon Hewitt and Mr. Froggat, containing suggestions as to procedure and matters for discussion at the Conference. He stated that he was expecting shortly replies from other Govern- ment Entomologists, to whom he had written on the same subject.

3. The question of procedure at the Conference was discussed generally. The Sub-Committee thought that there should be a general meeting when the Conference would be formally opened; that there should be a series of meetings for the reading of papers and discussion of scientific questions; that there would then have to be a business meeting for consideration of proposals as to the organiza- tion, work, and financing of the Bureau; that the Managing Committee would then consider any recommendations submitted during the Conference and report at a final meeting of the Conference on the action which it proposed to take on these recommendations.

4. The Sub-Committee expressed the hope that Viscount Harcourt would consent to preside at the opening of the Conference, when a review of the work of the Bureau could be given and the nature of the proceedings should be outlined. 5. Pending the drafting of a programme, the Sub-Committee were unable to estimate the period which would be covered by the Conference. It was, however, agreed that, in view of the comparatively small number of representatives who would be present, and the fact that all would probably be interested in the various papers read and matters discussed, there would be no occasion to break up into Committees.

6. Sir D. Prain suggested that the premises occupied by the Linnean Society might perhaps be lent for the Conference, if the Society were approached. The Sub-Committee welcomed this suggestion, and Sir H. Read said that he would take up the question of an official letter being sent to the Society on the subject from the Colonial Office.

7. The Director was requested to draft, as soon as he was in a position to do so, a programme of papers to be read and subjects to be discussed at the Con- ference, for further consideration by the Sub-Committee.

8. The Director was also requested to arrange for a summary of all plant- import and plant-protective legislation in the Empire to be drawn up for use at the Conference.

9. The question of entertaining the representatives at the Conference and arrangements for reporting the proceedings were deferred for consideration at a later date.

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