68 



Although the streams run through large strips forest and sleeping 

 sickness occurs in all the villages, Glossina palpalis and G. tabaniformis 

 were exceedingly rare. This was probably due to the fact that the 

 observations were made in October at the end of the dry season, when 

 tsetse-flies are generally less numerous. To the south of the area 

 G. palpalis is abundant and was found even in groves or thickets at 

 a distance from water and consisting of very varied vegetation. Many 

 such localities in which G. palpalis was found are separated from the 

 nearest water by large expanses of ground devoid of trees, and it is 

 evident that its occurrence in these thickets is chiefly due to the 

 presence of pigs, both tame and wild. Whether the flies breed in these 

 sites has not been ascertained. Other biting flies captured include 

 Haematopota sp. Mosquitos were rare. 



Sleeping sickness is very prevalent, but is irregalaily distributed 

 among villages in close proximity to each other, as well as in different 

 groups of villages. Its incidence was generally higher in villages in 

 the immediate vicinity of large rivers than in those situated on 

 table-lands, but the exceptions were so numerous that a correlation 

 between the occurrence of G. palpalis and the numbers of cases could 

 not be estabhshed. The number of young children contracting the 

 disease is relatively small, and in most cases the parents were affected 

 at the same time. 



The necessity for systematic prophylaxis is emphasised, and it is 

 suggested that a Government medical commission should be sent 

 to carry out the necessary work and direct and co-ordinate the present 

 efforts of missionaries and others. 



Plath (0. E.). The Prevalence of Phorniia azurea, Fallen (Larva 

 parasitic on Nestling Birds) in the Puget Sound Region and Data 

 on Two undescribed Flies of similar Habit. -J/; m. Entom. Soc. 

 America, Columbus, Ohio, xii, no. 4, December 1919, pp. 373-381. 

 [Received 9th February 1920.] 



The larvae of Phormia azurea, Fall., have been recorded as habitually 

 sucking the blood of nestling birds, sometimes causing their death, 

 in the San Francisco Bay region. The author records observations 

 in the Puget sound region, where he found the same habit prevalent. 

 From 15th June to 1st August, 54 nests were examined containing 

 ten different species of nestling birds, 33 of them being found infested 

 with larvae of P. azurea, Fall., one with a new species of Phormia and 

 six with larvae of a new fly of the genus Hylemijia. Descriptions of 

 these flies are given, Phormia metallica, sp. n., being described by 

 C. H. T. Townsend, and Hijlemyia nidicola, sp. n., by J. M. Aldrich. 



All the nests examined were located in trees and shrubs 3 to 20 feet 

 above ground, with the exception of 8, which were at an altitude of 

 about 40 feet. The nests contained in all 111 nestlings, and although 

 many of the larvae were gorged with blood only two of the nestlings 

 had died ; most of the nest were however those of comparatively large 

 birds. The larvae of P. metallica were found in a nest of western robin 

 {Merula migratoria propinqua), and when the nestlings took wing, 26 

 larvae were taken from it. These pupated in a few days ; both larvae 

 and pupae very closely resemble those of P. azurea. 



