98 EEPOET OF THE ENT0MOI,0OI('AL SECTION 



indigenous fishes would perform similar services. The results obtained from an experiment 

 made with Cyprinodon dispar — a species recommended for trial by the Superintendent 

 of Game Preservation — were very promising, but a second experiment, carried out on a 

 larger scale, has not been so successful. It is, however, yet early to say definitely whether 

 or not this fish can be considered a valuable factor in the control of the members of the 

 Fam. Gulicidse. 

 Control of The Control of injurious birds is perhaps scarcely the work of an entomologist, but in 



inj^urious ^^^ absence of an official to whom this duty could be assigned, the matter has been given 



some attention. Almost incredible amounts of grain are lost by cultivators yearly, owing 

 to the ravages of sparrows and other small grain-eating birds. Particularly is this the 

 case in Sennar and some of the other eastern provinces, while, in Dongola Province, the 

 Governor estimates these losses to amount to a quantity equal to one-third of the grain 

 harvested, or over 70,000 ardebs, worth more than £E 70,000. This latter province, 

 situated as it is in an almost rainless region, where grain-eating birds are practically 

 dependent on the cultivations for their food, suggested itself as being best adapted for 

 the carrying-out of an experiment in the control of these small depredators. In June 

 of this year, an estimate was made of the probable cost of such an experiment and a sum 

 of £E 1,255 asked for-, to be spread over two years. It is confidently hoped that this 

 experiment, if carried out, will yield results fully justifying its cost. Mr. A. L. Butler, 

 Superintendent of Game Preservation, having kindly undertaken to identify any birds 

 collected, it is proposed to prosecute some investigations on the food of those species 

 which are suspected of being either beneficial or injurious.* 



During the winter 1908-9, the sum of £E 35 was voted by the committee of the Sudan 

 Government Museum to be spent on an entomological show-case. A glass-fronted 

 mahogany cabinet containing forty drawers was purchased, and an exhibit jirepared of 

 blood-sucking insects and ticks, and insects injurious to agriculture and to stored goods. 

 Owing to lack of funds, an application for an untrained assistant could not be granted, 

 but the Director of Laboratories has allowed Mr. Marshall, an assistant in the bacteriological 

 section, to give me one hour of his time every day. Mr. Marshall has been of help in 

 cataloguing bulletins and journals and in attending to living occupants of breeding- 

 cages, when I have been out of Khartoum. 

 The Bureau of The Bureau of Entomological Eesearch (Tropical Africa) has been of very great 



Reserrch°^"^^' assistance in the determination of insects and ticks. Two papers dealing with the bionomics 

 of six species of blood-sucking flies (Fam. Tahanidm) have been published in the bulletin 

 issued by the committee. 



Mr. Austen has been good enough to contribute some notes on three new species of 

 Tahanidm, and descriptions of several recently described species will be found in this 

 report. Plate VII. is reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of the Journal of 

 Economic Biologi/, and Plates III. and V. from the Bulletin of Entomological Rpsearch. 

 The figures on Plates VIII. and IX. have been drawn by Miss C. M. Beard, with her 

 usual care and skill, while Plates I., II., IV. and VI. aie by the well-known artist 

 Mr. A. J. Engel Terzi. 



In conclusion I wish to express my indebtedness to those wlio have helped me in 

 my work. Mr. J. Currie, Director of Education in the Sudan, and Dr. A. Balfour, 

 Director of the Wellcome Tropical Eesearch Laboratories, have always given me every 



• Mr. Butler has recently counselled delay until we are in possession of more complete information regarding 

 the species of birds chiefly responsible for the damage. Prom the information he supplies this would certainly 

 seem to be advisable, but Mr. King's note has served to direct attention to this important question. — A.B. 



