BREEDING PLACES 55 



were the first to find large numbers of pupae,^ and reported 

 as follows : " They were most readily found on the 

 shore within a yard or two of the edge of the forest. It 

 has since been found that the nearer the forest the more 

 plentiful they are . . . and that the most favourable 

 place is close to the undergrowth that edges the forests 

 — in the loose dry sand near the roots of ferns, etc., and 

 shaded to some extent by the tall forest trees." This 

 excellent account may now be enlarged upon as a result 

 of many months' work and thought devoted to the breed- 

 ing places of palpalis. 



It may be pointed out firstly that there are two broad 

 distinctions possible — between large areas of shore suit- 

 able, for reasons to be indicated later, along much of its 

 length for the pupae, and isolated spots at the bases 

 of trees, individual rocks, etc., such as the spots first 

 described by Dr. Bagshawe. 



The former large areas may be termed " breeding 

 grounds," the latter I have termed " loci," and they will 

 be considered in detail. 



The requirements of the pupae of Glossina palpalis 

 may be summarized as follows : " Loose dry soil, well 

 shaded, but with the surface thoroughly ventilated ; 

 within a few yards from the water but beyond its reach." ^ 

 It is obvious that the soil must be loose, else the larva 

 would be unable to burrow down. Hence, however 

 suitable a spot may be in many other ways, if it is hard 

 and bound down by rootlets of grass it will not be a 

 good place for larvae to burrow into the soil. 



The character of the soil is important ; that it must 

 be dry and well ventilated has been proved over and over 

 again. A very interesting observation on Tavu Island 

 in 1914 showed this very well. Close to a very favourite 



^ Progress Report on the Uganda Sleeping Sickness Camps, by Dr. 

 A. D. P. Hodges, 1909, Appendix C, "The breeding grounds of Qlossina 

 palpalis.''' The Sleeping Sickness Bureau, 1909. 



2 See my Fifth Report, p. 91. 



