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BLOODSUCKING INSECTS AND TROPICAL DISEASES. 



The importance of blood-sucking insects and other animals as 

 possible disseminators of pathogenic organisms b«ing now universally 

 recognised, it is absolutely essentia], firstly that medical men and 

 others engaged in improving the sanitation of tropical countries should 

 havo the means of determining correctly the names of blood-sucking 

 species with which they may come into contact ; and secondly that a 

 well-preserved collection of modern specimens should be available in 

 London for comparison. 



The British Museum has already dealt with the Mosquitoes and 

 Tsetse-flies, and it is now proposed to publish on similar lines a further 

 series of monographs on the other blood -sucking forms. The material 

 at present at our disposal, however, is insufficient for this purpose, and 

 it is therefore hoped that all medical men and naturalists residing in 

 British Colonies, or in the tropics in any part of the world, will make 

 special endeavours to obtain specimens and send them addressed to the 

 Director, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, 

 London, S. W., together with notes on the names, habits, and distri- 

 bution of the insects. This appeal is made especially to the medical 

 officers of the Foreign and Colonial Services, to the medical officers 

 of the Navy, Army, and Indian Services, and to all official represent- 

 atives of H. M.'s Government in foreign parts. 



The accompanying pamphlet, which has been prepared in order to 

 assist these who may be willing to help the Museum in this way, is 

 mainly devoted to the blood-sucking Flies (Diptera), and contains a 

 resume of what is known of their appearance, habits and life-history, 

 with illustrations of typical forms, and full directions as to the collec- 

 tion and transmission of specimens to England. 



When a collection is despatched, a separate letter of advice stating 

 the fact should always be sent ; the expense of sending collections to 

 the Museum, by parcel post or otherwise, will be refunded. All 

 collections forwarded to the Museum and addressed as stated will 

 promptly be acknowledged, and so soon as sufficient material has been 

 obtained the preparation of the first monograph will be commenced. 



E. RAY LANKESTER, Director, 

 British Museum (.Natural History), Cromwell Road, 



10*/* December 1905. London, S.W. 



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