212 



are nevertheless remarkable. A', astia and A', cheopis together make 

 up 90 per cent, of the total number of fleas present, and there appears 

 to be a close relation between the predominance of X. cheopis and 

 high plague mortality. A'. cJieopis, in fact, is clearly indicated as 

 the true " plague flea," while A", astia predominates in the areas that 

 have remained free from plague or have suffered only lightly. The 

 Punjab has throughout been the most heavily infected part of India ; 

 this region shows 3,386 individuals of A. cheopis in the collections 

 against 2,017 of A. astia ; in certain districts of the Punjab, however, 

 tlie plague incidence has been light, and there A. astia usually 

 predominated. Observations with regard to X. brasiliensis and 

 Ceratophy litis are not sufficient to justify any inference. 



If more extended examination and the addition of more precise 

 data confirm the theory that A. cheopis is the plague flea, while 



A. astia is not a carrier, it will l:>e possible by examining the fleas of any 

 locality to estimate precisely its liability to plague, and, in fact, to 

 map out A", cheopis-hclts, just as tsetse-belts have been mapped 

 out in Africa. Moreover, the significance of an imported case of 

 plague will depend largely on the local species of flea. 



Hoffmann (W. H.). Chrysops costata, a Blood-sucking Fly from Cuba. 



— Amer. Jl. Trop. Med., Baltimore, i, no. 5, September 1921, 

 pp. 311-312. 



Observations are recorded on a blood-sucking fly which repeatedly 

 attacked the author in Havana during the cool and dry season from 

 November to March. It was unknown to the residents, but has been 

 identified as Chrysops costata, F. It bites at all times of the day, 

 and always attacks the head. 



RouBAUD (E.). La Fermentation du Tas de Fumier au Service de 

 la Basse-Cour dans la Lutte contre les Mouches. — Bull. Mas. 

 Natnl., Hist. Nat., Paris, 1921, no. 1, pp. 48-52, 1 fig. 



Numerous larvae of Miisca domestica are destroyed by fowls. 

 Experiments show that this number may be further increased by 

 enclosing manure heaps at the sides. When fermentation begins, the 

 larvae in the enclosed heap are forced to come to the surface, where 

 poultry can destroy them ; whereas should the sides be exposed, a large 

 number of larvae will be able to migrate and escape destruction. 



Friederichs (K.). Untersuchungen iiber Simuliiden. (Teil II.) 



[Investigations on Simuliids. Part 11.1 — Zcitschr. angeiv. Ent., 

 Berlin, viii, no. 1, September 1921, pp. 31-92, 11 figs. 



The first part of this paper has already been noticed [R.A.E., 



B, viii, 134] as have some notes published subsequently [R.A.E., B, 

 viii, 215 ; ix, 36, 104]. The keys to German Simuliids hitherto avail- 

 able are unsatisfactory, but as a result of additional material the 

 author considers that information for this purpose is now sufficient 

 as regards the following species : Simidiiim ornatitm, Mg., S. monticola, 

 Friederichs, 5. austeni, Edw., 5. nolleri, sp. n., 5. variegatum, Mg. 

 (henefica, Friederichs), S. argyreatum, Mg., S. reptans, L., 5. auricoma, 

 Mg., S. costattmi, Friederichs, 5. latipes, Mg., 5. anreuni. Fries, 

 5. angustipes, Edw., S. maculatum, Mg., and 5. hirtipes. Fries. The 

 adults, larvae and pupae of these are described, with keys to the 

 pupae and adults. 



