34 



THE XA TURE- S TUD Y RE J VE W 



[3 : 2 — FEE. 



1907 



bish. This was perfectly proper, but the dumping was so carelessly 

 clone that side streams were dammed and so made stagnant pools, often 

 acres in extent, along the brook valley. Not only this, but the 

 brook channel itself was made the receptacle for everything unsightly- 

 brush, tin cans, old baby carriages and bicycles, dead cats and hens. 

 Mud from the wash of newly opened streets, collected on these 

 obstructions, weeds grew in the mud, complete dams formed, back 

 water converted meadows and pastures into bogs and fine groves were 

 killed and turned into swamps. This added scores of acres to the 

 mosquito breeding tracts. 



Photograph by C. F. Hodg - 



Pupils of Downing Street School taking a nature-study lesson on mosquito extermination. 



May 3, 1905. 



The practical work was begun in April. The life-history of the 

 mosquito was discussed with the pupils and they were asked to exam- 

 ine any stagnant water about their homes or in the district and to 

 bring to school anything that looked like the mosquito wrigglers. 

 The result was such an awakening as the neighborhood had seldom 

 experienced. The whole brook valley covered with stagnant water 

 was alive. Specimens were brought in and, in aquaria carefully cov- 

 ered with cheesecloth, could be actually observed to emerge from the 

 water as "sure enough" mosquitoes. This was conclusive and con- 

 vincing. The universal question: "Where can all the mosquitoes 

 come from ?" was answered. 



