206 



becomes neutralised. In the case of substances containing albumen 

 the acid is neutralised by the formation of ammonia. The probable 

 functions of the various component parts of [the larval contents 

 mentioned above are discussed. 



Young (A. R.). Report of the Divisional Director. — New Zealand 

 Dept. Agric. Indust. <& Commerce, Ann. Rept. 1918-19, Wellington, 

 1919, pp. 10-15. [Received 27th Sept. 1920]. 



As a result of a conference held in Auckland to deal with the problem 

 of the tick, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, it was found that the original 

 suggestion regarding a quarantine area would be likely to be imprac- 

 ticable, and it was therefore abandoned. It has been decided to 

 deal with this pest by strict control measures, and any area in which 

 the tick is found is to be placed at once under comprehensive regulations, 

 which are to be drawn up for this purpose. So far no compulsory action 

 has been taken with regard to the eradication of the pest, but 

 information on the subject of its control is being disseminated in 

 the affected districts, and dipping tanks subsidised by the Government 

 are being erected. 



The Blow-fly Pest. — Science and Industry, Melbourne, ii, no. 7, 

 July 1920, pp. 428-430. 



The investigations that are desirable on the subject of the blow- fly 

 pest in Australia are outlined. There are four distinct headings : 

 measures against the adult fly ; against the larva or pupa ; measures 

 to protect sheep from attack ; and those designed to destroy maggots 

 already present. Emphasis is laid on the importance of natural- 

 enemies [R.A.E., B, viii, 174] ; a large amount of work remains to 

 be done to determine the various species of flies that frequent sheep, 

 especially those that breed in wool, etc. ; to find whether any particular 

 species initiate the conditions ; to determine the distribution of the 

 various species and their local prevalence ; and to make careful 

 tests of the best traps and baits. Experiments with regard to dips 

 and sprays suitable to various circumstances are also to be continued. 



An investigation of the acute affection of sheep sometimes associated 

 with fly infestation is also important, 



Lamborn (W. a.). Some further Notes on the Tsetse-flies of Nyasa- 

 land,— Bull. Entom. Res., London, xi, no. 2, September 1920, pp. 

 101-104. 

 The author records a hurried visit in July 1919 to a village near the 

 Livingstonia Peninsula on Lake Nyasa, where in 1914-15 some work 

 was carried out on the various insects parasitic on the puparia of 

 Glossina morsitans. Great success was obtained at that time, parti- 

 cularly with Mutilla glossinae. Turner, judging from the number of 

 parasitic cocoons found in old puparia of the fly and bred from recent 

 ones. In 1919 G. ?norsitans was present in abundance, indicating 

 perhaps the failure of the natural parasites to keep pace with the 

 migrations of the fly. G. brevipalpis was frequently found in the 

 same area with G. morsitans, although the breeding-places selected 

 were very different, 



