i2 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTTTRAL RESEAJRCti 



latter investigation a method of destroying the male fly, 

 which is simple, cheap and effective, has been discovered, 

 and though it seems improbable that anything short of 

 netting the trees will completely prevent the female reach- 

 ing them, the destruction of the males should very much 

 reduce the damage done. 



While on leave, Mr. Howlett attended as Indian dele- 

 gate the First International Congress of Entomology at 

 Brussels, and read two papers by Mr. Lefroy and himself. 

 He also carried out, in collaboration with two other gentle- 

 men, a successful series of experiments on the range and 

 rate of flight of house-flies under natural conditions, points 

 of importance in view of their behaviour as carriers of 

 disease. The results were published by the Local Govern- 

 ment Board in England. 



Since his return, Mr. Howlett has again given invalu- 

 able assistance in supervising much of the work of the 

 artist staff, and in advising the other sections in the pre- 

 paration of illustrations for publication. 



In certain respects the work of this section differs 

 widely from that of the other sections at Pusa. It was 

 founded to study Diptera, not only those (comparatively 

 few in number) which are serious crop pests, but also those 

 which convey disease to man and animals. Mr. Howlett's 

 work is, therefore, closely related to the work of the Medi- 

 cal and Veterinary Departments, and it is probable, taking 

 into account the great developments towards a realization 

 of the importance of biting flies as disease carriers, that the 

 activities of the Second Entomological Section will expand 

 in this direction rather than on more purely agricultural 

 lines. 



9. Harterioloijy. — Mr. liutcJiinson held charge of this 

 section throughout the year. 



Much of his work has been of preliminary nature, con- 

 fined largely to trial and selection of the bacteriological 

 methods best adapted for dealing with the special condi- 

 tions of soil and climate in India. The main lines have 

 been aimed at determining under what conditions various 



