INTRODUCTION 19 



It will be found that its contents range over a considerable variety of subjects, 

 Chemistry, Entomology, Ornithology, certain Arachiiiila of tlie Sudan, Protozoology, 

 Geology, Anthropology, Sociology and Sanitary ICngiiieering ail claiming attention. 



Again we are indebted to extra-mural workers. Mr. A. L. Butler, at my request, 

 kindly furnished a useful practical paper on the grain-eating birds of the Sudan, which, 

 fortunately, thanks to Mr. Wellcome, it has been jiossible to have illustrated in a manner 

 worthy of the text. Dr. Leiper,' for the second time, favours us with an account of t-'on'nbutors 



. . to Volume B 



Sudanese parasitic worms, and Professor Werner, of Vienna, with a most interesting paper 

 on scorpions and annulated spiders which, with its fine illustrations, cannot fail to 

 be of value. Sir Thomas R. Fraser, of Edinburgh, has very kindly given us a paper 

 on the venom of the Sudan " Spitting-Snake," and Mr. Henry Curtis has written an 

 account of the " Spitting-Snakes " of South Africa, which is illustrated by drawings made 

 by Lady Dorothy Stanley. Mr. Dunn has written an interesting account of ancient 

 gold mining in the Sudan which is illustrated by some photographs kindly given us 

 by Dr. A. M. Elliot (late medical officer of the Om Nabardi Gold Mines), and 

 Mr. F. V. Theobald contributes notes on two new mosquitoes. 



Dr. Aders' paper has been mentioned, and Captain Anderson, whose monograph on medical 

 customs in Kordofan was one of the features of our last Report, has again put pen to paper 

 on our behalf, and contributes a most interesting paper on the Nyam-nyam and Gour people 

 inhabiting the Eastern Pahr-El-Ghazal. The chief anthropological interest is this year 

 supplied by Dr. C. G. Seligniann's paper. He and Mrs. Seligmann, in 1908-9, were given 

 the laboratory steamer for their journey south, and in return Dr. Seligmann has kindly 

 become a contributor, dealing with subjects on which he is a well-known expert. 



Finally, Messrs. W. H. McLean and G. E. Hunt, of the Gordon College, who have 

 aided me so greatly in the public Jiealth work of the city, liave compiled a practical 

 paper on such aspects of tropical sanitary engineering as are likely to appeal to those 

 who have to cater for the sanitary needs of towns in tropical countries, and which 

 should be most useful to Medical Officers of Health, Sanitary Inspectors, Municipal 

 Engineers, Boards of Health and otiier local Sanitary authorities, at least sucji as have 

 to work in hot, dry and dusty countries like the Sudan. 



Turning now to the work of non-medical members ol the Staff, one liiids that Non-medical 

 Mr. King has been most assiduous in his undertakings. As, at the beginning of his t^p staff 

 report, he gives an outline ol' what lie has accomplished, where he has been and what 

 he intends to do, I need not enter into details, but content myself with saying that 

 Mr. King is a very valuable asset to the Sudan, and that every facility should be given 

 him to make the most of his keen interest in, and sound knowledge of, his subject. 



I need merely refer to his researches on the bionomics of Tabauida', which are now 

 quoted in all works on this subject, to the Sudan Plant Diseases Ordinance, which owes 

 its existence to his efforts, and to his notes on mosquitoes and moscjuito-devouring fish, 

 to indicate what an essential factor this economic entomological work is in the well-being 

 and for the future of the Sudan. A most gratifying feature is the help rendered 

 Mr. King by well-nigh everyone, from Governors of Provinces downwards. 



One leaves the most important items to the end as a rule, working, as it were, 

 towards a climax, and hence it is only fitting tliat this place of lionour, so far as 

 Volume B is concerned, should be devoted to a brief consideration of the w(jrk of llie 



' Unfortunately t.lic paper liy Dr. Leiper was nut. rei'eivcd in time fur piililii-ation. 



