INTRODUCTION xi 



active service in November 1918, I returned to Uganda, 

 and had a further most interesting tour among the same 

 islands that were visited with Mr. Fiske in 1914. 



This book is an attempt to give an account of the 

 life on the islands of the Victoria Nyanja : and very 

 nearly all the examples mentioned were met with there, 

 between February 1911 and August 1914. During active 

 service, however, other examples were met with, an 

 account of which seemed not to be out of place in this 

 book because of their bearing on certain of the points 

 discussed. The fascinating question of the Colouration of 

 Insects has been treated at some length, but mainly from 

 the point of view of the bearing on it of examples met 

 with on the islands. Consequently this chapter must 

 not be taken as a discussion of the relative merits of 

 rival theories from an abstract, or " arm-chair," point 

 of view. Similarly the chapter on Glossina must not 

 be- taken as a complete summary of all that is known, 

 since this book deals almost entirely with some of 

 my own observations and work. 



The chapters on Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, I am 

 aware, are dreadfully scanty. In defence, I can only 

 urge that I am primarily an entomologist ; and my 

 knowledge of field botany is a minus quantity ! 



I am indebted to the Royal Society and the Controller 

 of His Majesty's Stationery Office for permission to 

 reproduce illustrations and other matter that have 

 appeared in my reports to the Sleeping Sickness Com- 

 mission. 



The beautiful photograph of Glossina is the work of 

 Mr. A. Robinson, of the Oxford University Museum. 



Grateful acknowledgment is also due to the Council 

 of the Entomological Society of London, for permission 



