162 



Rkynchoidomonas sipknncidinac is a natural parasite of the eye 

 fly, Siphnncidina funicola, living in its malpighian tubes, but is in no 

 way connected with the Herpetomonas found in the alimentary tract. 

 It is never acquired by the larvae in feeding, whereas Herpetomonas 

 develops normally in the larva. It is a typical flagellated organism 

 and is distinct from either Herpetomonas or Crithidia. The life- 

 history of the parasite is identical with that of the other insect flagel- 

 lates of the genera Herpetomonas and Crithidia. It is acquired by the 

 fly when it ingests the post-flagellate stages passed out in the faeces 

 of another fly. 



Herpetomonas siphtnculinae is a natural parasite of the eye fly, 

 living in its alimentary tract. It develops normally in the alimentary 

 tract of the larva. At a late stage, this parasite exhibits a character- 

 istic trypanosome appearance, and may easily be mistaken for a true 

 trypanosome. It is in no way connected with any blood parasite. 

 In the process of time it may become a pathogenic organism, as ita 

 host feeds on discharges from sores, etc. For this reason it is important 

 that the natural breeding grounds of Siphnncidina funicola be dis- 

 covered, though large numbers collecting on bits of string, cobwebs, 

 etc., may be destroyed by burning. 



Herpetomonas pidicis is a natural flagellate of Pnlex irritans and 

 probably occurs wherever the host is found. The flea is infected in 

 its larval stage, the parasites then living in the stomach of the larva 

 and pupa, only appearing in the malpighian tubes of the adult insect 

 some time after it has emerged. The parasites collect in the flea's 

 rectum, and forming small round resistant post-flagellates are passed 

 out in the faeces of the flea. The parasite can be cultivated on the 

 well known NNN medium, and fleas feeding on the cultures are readily 

 infected. 



Experiments were carried out to observe the behaviour of Herpe- 

 tomonas pidicis, H. miiscae-domcsticae and Crithidia ctenocephali in 

 the alimentary tract of the bed-bug, Cimex hemiptera, F. The bugs were 

 fed on cultures of the parasites, and their mid-gut, hind-gut, and rectal 

 contents cultured on successive days. It was found that the three 

 flagellates were able to live in the alimentary tract of the bed-bug, 

 which is not their normal insect host, for long periods {H. pidicis 

 37 days, C. ctenocephali 8 days, and H. miiscae-domesticae 45 days), 

 which shows that the mid- gut, hind- gut and rectum of the bug is an 

 excellent environment for their growth and multiplication. 



Gill (C. A.). The Role of Meteorology in Malaria.— /«^. Jl. Med. 

 Res., Calcidta, viii, no. 4, April 1921, pp. 633-693, 1 map, 1 fig., 

 1 chart. [Received28th July 1921.J 



This study of the influence of meteorology in the incidence of 

 malaria in the Punjab leads to certain conclusions, which are however 

 put forward tentatively, and it is recognised that further investigation 

 for the purpose of their corroboration and amplification is necessary. 



The climate and meteorology of the Punjab, the distribution of 

 endemic and epidemic malaria, the correlation between temperature,, 

 humidity, rainfafl and malaria, and the potential infection period, are 

 discussed. Experimental observations on the effect of humidity, 

 temperature and pressure on the longevity and habits of mosquitos" 

 and their power to transmit infection, show that Ctdex fatigans 

 is influenced to a marked degree in its longevity and habits, 

 by the relative humidity of the atmosphere [R.A.E., B, ix, 86]. A& 



