51 



On Some Blood-Sucking and other Diptera from the Anglo- 

 Egyptian Sudan Collected During the Year 1905, 

 WITH Descriptions of New Species 



BY 



Eknest E. Austen 

 Zoological Department, British Bluseiini (Natural History^ 



In the following paper, which contains notes on some of the most interesting of tlie Diptera 

 Blood-sucking Flies (Diptera) met with during the past year, two species and one 

 sub-species, all of which belong to the ftimily TabanuJa', are described as new. The list of 

 novelties might possibly have been longer, had it not been for the damaged condition of some 

 of the specimens, which rendered determination a matter of impossibility. Those who are in 

 a position to help to increase our knowledge of the Blood-sucking Flies of the Sudan, by 

 collecting and forwarding specimens, should bear in mind that a little care and deftness of 

 handling on the part of the collector may save the unfortunate systematist, whose task it 

 will be to determine or describe the species, a good deal of trouble and eye-strain later on. 

 In the case of many seroot-flies and other Diptera, to discriminate correctly between species 

 is often a matter of no little difficulty even when the condition of the specimens is all that 

 can be desired ; but when precisely the opposite is the fact, when the antennae are missing, 

 and thorax and abdomen are more or less denuded of their natural covering, the 

 determination of species is often impossible, and though they may in some cases be recognised 

 as new, their description as such is out of the question. To expect the systematist to turn 

 out satisfactory work with material of this character, is no doubt gratifying if regarded as an 

 expression of confidence in his powers, but it is scarcely more reasonable than to require a 

 student of tropical diseases to diagnose a case of Trypanosomiasis from a six months' old 

 blood smear on a loin-cloth. To become a satisfiictory collector of Blood-sucking and other 

 Flies is not difficult, and pre-supposes no more delicacy of manipulation than any medical 

 man should possess. Full directions as to procedure will gladly be sent to all those willing collectors 

 to assist, who will be good enough to make application to the writer of this paper.* In tlie 

 meantime the following points, all uf which are the outcome of practical experience, should 

 be borne carefully in mind. 



(i.) Specimens of Blood-sucking and other Diptera intended fur determination should 

 be in the most perfect possible condition. 



(ii.) Specimens collected by nafires seldom fulfil this requirement. 



(iii.) Wherever possible Flies should always be pinned, and should be drawn up 

 nciii' f/ir lioad of t/it' pin, nut left close to the point. 



(iv.) If pinning is impossible, specimens are best placed in three-cornered envelepes of 

 soft paper, after the method adopted by collectors of butterflies. 



' Of. " Blood-suckiii? Flics, Ticks, &c., .and How to Collect Them," by E. ^E. Austen. Second Edition. 

 London; British Museum (N.atural History), 1905. 22 pp., with ilhistr.itions in te.xt. 



