Sept. 2, 1908.] Joricnltuval Gazette of N.SJV. 767 



this beiiig an effec'ti\(' parasite in Australian orrliaids, if it cannot check the 

 i-avages of the fruit-tly in its native haunts ; but if any ol the Departments 

 of Agriculture interested want to obtain those parasites, a number could be 

 obtained at a very small c(»st. 



I have enlisted the services of the Imperial Entomologist and his assistants 

 to take up the matter, and tlie Director of Agriculture for Madras will lend 

 his native assistants, who are trained entomologists, anfl if so instructed 

 would collect and forward via Colombo parasites and pup.e this coming 

 season. 



Returning to Madras on tlie 25th June, 190c^, I parted witli Mr. H<jwlett, 

 who has given me such valuable assistance, and started for Ceylon via Tuti- 

 corin the same evening, reaching the boat the following evening and landing 

 in Colombo early ne.xt morning (Saturday, 27th). 



After calling at the Agricultural Society's offices and the Chemical Branch 

 ■of the Botanical Gardeiis Station, I left for Paraden3'ia the same afternoon, 

 and spent the two following days at the laboratories of the Hoyal Botanic 

 Gardens examining the collections and collecting fruit-Hies. Then, with Mr. 

 West (Acting Entomologist), I went across to the south-east of the island, 

 among the tea plantations, where I found that fruit-flies were common in the 

 garden fruits later in the season. Returning the next day, I met the 

 Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, who advised me to visit the great 

 mango district of Jaffna, in the north of Ceylon, and he wired to the Resi- 

 dent of the district to place his officers at my disposal while there. 



Reaching Jaffna late the following night, I was met Ijy Messrs. Matta- 

 huHuu-a and Chelones, who arranged everything for me until I left. In the 

 morning we drove through 20 miles of palm groves and cultivated lands, and 

 though the season was late and there was not much fruit about, I found any 

 amount of fruit-fly maggots in the melon fields, from which I have since bred 

 a fine series of a large fruit-fly, allied to Dacus curmihitfv. On my return 

 to Colombo I spent the morning with Dr. Wiley at the nuiseum, and ex- 

 amined his collections. 



The Mediterranean fruit-fly is not found in India or Ceylon, though I 

 found specimens in the collections at Cairo. All the fruit-flies in the latter 

 countries belong to the genus Dacus, and are allied to the Queensland fruit-fly. 



The parasites in Bangalore are only bred from species of Dam^, and we 

 have no record of one on the Mediterranean fniit-flv. 



I have, iVrc, 



WALTER W. FROGGATT. 



To the Minister of Agriculture, New South Wales. 



