18 MOSQUITOES 



which has beeu collected, and especially by that adduced 

 by Mrs. C. B. Aaron in her essay in the little book en- 

 titled " Dragon-Hies versus Mosquitoes " (The Laniborn 

 Essays, Appleton k Co., 1890), that mosquitoes are very 

 careful not to take wing- during a strong breeze. Mrs. 

 Aaron's words are worth (pioting : 



The migration of iiiosiiuitocs lias been the souree ol iimcii mis- 

 apprehension on the i)art of tiic pul>iic. Tlic idea prevalent at 

 our seaside resorts tliat a iaiiil breeze brings the swai'iiis of mos- 

 quitoes from far inhmd, is based on the supposition that this in- 

 sect is capable of long-sustained flight and a certain amount of 

 battling against the wind. This is an error. M<>s(jiiitties are 

 frail of wing ; a light puff of breath will illustrate this by luiri- 

 ing the helpless creature away, and it will not venture on the 

 wing again for some time after finding a safe harbor. The preva- 

 lence of mosquitoes during a lanil i)reezeis easily explained. It is 

 usually only during the lulls in the wind at such times, that 

 Culex can lly. Generally on our coast a sea-breeze means a stiff 

 breeze, and during these even the Odonata, and oft<'n the robust 

 and venturesome Tjibanidse, will be found hovering on the lee- 

 ward side of the houses, sand-dunes, anil thick foliage. In the 

 meadows south of Atlantic City, N. J., large swarms of Culex are 

 sheltered in the dense grass or wind-battered tree-tops on the off 

 side of the sand-dunes. Here, in common with all localities so 

 exposed to searching wind, the trees and large bushes are nnich 

 stunted in growth and battered down to a flat top and common 

 level by the wind. In these matted l)raii('lies, dense witli the 

 close-clustered foliage, the mosquitoes may l)e discovered in such 

 numbers as to Ijring ilespair to the heart of the student who is 

 plotting their final extermination. While tiie strong bri'czcs last, 

 Culex will stick close to these friendly slu-ltcrs. though a cluster 



