August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 



being represented by two exceedingly fine lances, thickly armed 

 with curved teeth-like spines with their points directed upwards, 

 and bearing a strong resemblance to the prickles of a blackberry 

 leaf when under the microscope. It seems probable that these 

 organs are capable of being used like saws, which would perhaps 

 account for the continuous and tremulous n»otion observable 

 in the head of this insect whilst it is piercing its victims. The 

 labial palpi, which are small and situated close to the end of the 

 mouth, apparently consist of only two joints. The mandibles are 

 represented by two stout lances ribbed longitudinally, the extreme 

 points of which are abruptly curved inwards and have a small 

 tooth just below the point. It seems very likely that these teeth 

 and hooked points are used for tearing as well as piercing. 



Anopheles and Malaria. — Mr. W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., in 

 his little book on " Mosquitoes," published this year, makes the 

 the statement that — " Many people think that mosquitoes can be 

 blown into new or different localities by strong winds, and it has 

 been asserted that Anopheles are so distributed, but this a popular 

 error." In connection with this, the following may be of 

 interest : — In April and the beginning of May of this year, at 

 the end of the ^vet season, a succession of heavy north-westerly 

 gales blew across the island of Samarai, which lies south-east of 

 Papua. The island was afterwards found to be swarming with 

 adult Anopheles mosquitoes. As no Anopheles had been found 

 on the island for many years, having disappeared when the sago 

 swamps were drained and filled with earth, it seems highly 

 probable that these Anopheles were blown from adjacent swamp- 

 covered islands where they were to be found. Within ten days 

 of this visitation every person residing in Samarai who had never 

 till then suffered from malarial fever was down with the disease. 

 Some of these people had come to Samarai four years before, and, 

 as the island was regarded as being quite free from fever, had 

 never expected to contract the disease. As Samarai is looked 

 upon as the sanatorium of Papua for whites, it would be rather 

 an important matter to prove or disprove the liability of Anopheles 

 to be blown from a fever-infested haunt to a place free of the 

 disease. — R. W. Armitage. 



The late Dr. A. W. Howitt. — Some little time ago a sub- 

 committee of the Royal Society of Victoria was appointed to 

 consider the question of establishing some memorial of the late 

 Dr. A. W. Howitt. It has now been decided to raise a fund of 

 at least ;^ioo, and found a " Howitt Medal," to be awarded 

 from time to time to the author of distinguished work dealing 

 specially with the Natural Science of Australia. Dr. T. S. Hall, 

 M.A., has been appointed hon. treasurer, and will be pleased to 

 receive contributions to the fund. 



