30 



trees were present. The area was devoid of undergrowth, except for 

 a belt of high grass growing in the mud of the river bank. A breeding 

 ground of this species was discovered later near Lake Nyasa, where 

 its haunts are characterised by the great density of the vegetation 

 and a light, sandy soil. The greatest number of pupae was found 

 in a small area traversed by a path evidently frequented by game. 

 Four pupa cases out of 737 showed evidence of parasitism, probably 

 by Chalcids. 



Taylor (F. H.). A Blood-sucking Species of Pericoma in Queensland 



^ (Dipt.).— Bull. Entom. Research, London, vi, no. 3, December 1915, 



p. 267, 1 plate. 



Pericoma townsvillensis, sp. n., from Townsville, Queensland, is. 

 described. This is the first species of the family Psychodidae 

 recorded in Australia. It is a severe biter, the irritation remaining* 

 for some hours. In one case the swelling caused by the bite was 

 surrounded by a marked reddish area ; these symptoms persisted for 

 three weeks. 



Knab (F.). Some New Neotropical Simuliidae. — Bull. Entom. Research^ 

 London, vi, no. 3, December 1915, pp. 279-282. 



^^i. The species described in this paper were collected in tropical America 

 and include the following : — Simulium sanguineum, sp. n., from the 

 Atrato River, Colombia, attacking man ; S. limbatum, sp. n., from 

 British Guiana ; S. phcidum, sp. n., from Trinidad. The last-named 

 species does not appear to attack man, all the specimens taken being 

 found on the ears of horses or mules. The eggs are laid on stones at 

 the side of streams. Larvae and pupae are found in the strongest 

 current, attached to the sides of boulders or to dead sticks or leaves. 

 Eggs laid in a glass tube hatched after five days. 



A ScHWETZ (Dr. J.). La limite occldentale de la Glossina morsitans dans 

 le Katanga du Nord. [The western Hmit of G. morsitans in North 

 Katanga.] — Bull. Entom. Research, London, vi, no. 3, December 

 1915, pp. 283-288, 1 map. 



Climate, vegetation and the distribution of water are the three 

 factors, a knowledge of which enables the presence or absence of a 

 given group of Glossina to be foreseen in Central Africa. The 

 terminology with regard to vegetation is often inexact and the con- 

 fusion has arisen owing to the difficulty of adapting clear definitions 

 to the endless variations present in nature. The author defines the 

 various terms as follows : Forest, consisting of tall trees, the upper 

 branches of which give a permanent shade and the trunks of 

 which are entwined by a profusion of creeping plants, small 

 trees and bushes ; in the Lomami region such forests are met 

 with along rivers and in marshy lowlands. Wood or park land com- 

 prises an area covered with more or less stunted trees which usually 

 give little shade ; few or no creeping plants are present. Savannah 

 consists of a flat or undulating area covered with grass ; if the grass is 

 short, the term steppe is suggested. A savannah is generally dotted 

 here and there with bushes and small trees. When these are plentiful 

 and the trees are of a certain height, a wooded savannah results. 



