623 



THE OULICID FAUNA OF THE ADEN HINTERLAND, 

 THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS. 



By W. S. Patton, m.b. (Edin.), Lt., i.m.s. 



(With Plates A, B, C, D, and a Map.) 



(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on Z\st Aug. 1905.) 



The following paper is the outcome of a year's study of the Culicidas of 

 the Aden Hinterland, the notes for which were made when serving with a 

 Native Field Hospital. 



One could not help being struck with the large number of men who suffered 

 from a very severe type of malaria, and yet nothing was known about the 

 species of Anopheles that was carrying the malaria parasite. It was this that 

 led me to investigate the matter, studying, more particularly, the Anopheles 

 mosquitoes that are to be found in the District. 



As an introduction a short description of the journey from Aden to D'thala, 

 the furthest British Post in the Hinterland, is given, as a very vague idea exists 

 as to where the Hinterland is, judging from the addresses of many letters 

 received there. 



The Hinterland can be roughly described as that part of Southern Arabia, 

 outside Aden, under British Protection, stretching from Point Murad, on the 

 Gulf of Aden, inland in a north-easterly direction passing Kataba, the Turkish 

 frontier town, 9 miles from D'thala, to the Great Arabian Desert. 



This boundary has already been delimitated and is roughly about 300 miles 

 long ; from here the boundary, yet to be mapped out, stretches in an easterly 

 direction reaching the coast north-east of Aden. 



After leaving Aden, the first halt is made at Sheik Othaman, where there 

 is a rest camp on the further side of the town. Sheik, 9 miles from Aden, 

 has a population of about 7,000. The country house of the Resident is here, 

 situated in a thickly wooded garden. 



The road from Sheik to Bir Said Ali, the next post about 12 miles from Sheik, 

 crosses a sandy desert. It is a very tedious and trying march in the hot weather. 



There is a Standing Camp at Bir Said Ali and good drinking water can be 

 obtained from the wells close by. 



Salim, 11 miles further, the next halting place, is situated about 200 yards 

 from the Wady es Saghir. It is a most undesirable spot, exceedingly hot and 

 sandy, and is infested with camel ticks, mosquitoes and sand flies. 



Next morning, trekking almost due north, the Wady Tiban is met at Silula, 

 after leaving it on the left, the villages of Zaida, Shaka, and Al Anad are passed, 

 from which last, Nobat Dakin, the next post, comes into view. 



Nobat, 1,100 feet up, is situated on a spur, about \ mile above the Wadv 

 Tiban. It is the head-quarters of the lines of communication, consisting of 

 a large Supply and Transport Depot with a detachment of Native Infantry 

 under a British Officer. 



