INTKODUCTION. 13 



Epitheca, and Goraphus prevail. In order to raise any 

 of the species, Cyprinodonts and all other carnivorous 

 fishes will have to be excluded. 



" I agree with you that the mosquito nuisance might be 

 greatly lessened by filling the mosquito breeding waters 

 with the larvae of dragon flies. 



" I believe this might be done by securing vast numbers 

 of the eggs of dragon flies, protecting them until hatched, 

 and then turning them loose in the waters where the mos- 

 quitoes breed most abundantly. 



" Along the seacoast, however, most of the eggs and 

 hibernating female mosquitoes might be exterminated by 

 burning the grass, in early cold weather of autumn, all 

 over the marshes. 



" Permit me to say that I hope you will offer the prize, 

 as stated in your letter, and agitate the subject quite ex- 

 tensively. Yours sincerely, 



^'l\ R. UHLEK." 



The Rev. Dr. McCook, the first arachnologist of the 

 country, took time from his great treatise on " American 

 Spiders and their Spinningwork " to send me this appre- 

 ciative note : — 



" I have received your communication of July 2d with 

 very great interest. * * * ^g ^o the matter of 

 dragon flies — you have certainly hit u})on something that 

 has in it immeasurable possibilities. If the dragon fly 

 can be domesticated and utilized to destroy the mosquito 

 along the New Jersey coast it will render available and 

 valuable millions of property now comparatively useless, 

 and it Avill add to tlic comfort of visitors to the 'many 



