228 



Dwtomineura vioJacea, Macq., and Sihi'ns tnontawis, Ric, from South 

 Queensland, the former having previously been known only from the 

 Cairns hinterland. 



CocKERELL (T. D. A.). New Species of North American Fossil Beetles, 

 Cockroaches, and Tsetse Flies. — Proc. U.S. Nat. Musewn, 

 Washington, B.C., liv, no. 2237, 1918, pp. 301-311, 2 plates, 5 figs. 



Up to the present time 17 species and 4 recognisable varieties of 

 tsetse-flies are known from Africa. The only exception to the rule 

 that these flies are peculiar to the African continent is Glossina 

 tachinoides, which has been found in southern Arabia. 



In 1892 and 1907 specimens of a fossil tsetse-fly from the Miocene 

 shales were found in Colorado and described as a new genus and 

 species, Paloestrns oligocemis, though this is now recognised as a true 

 Glossina. This discovery gave rise to the theory that the disappearance 

 of so many large mammals formerly inhabiting America may have been 

 due to the prevalence of a tsetse-fly, carrying disease-producing organ- 

 isms. Other specimens, representing additional species, that have 

 subsequently been discovered at the same place are : — G. osborni, 

 G. veterna, and G. arynati'pes. Of these fossil species G. {Paloestrus) 

 oligocena is the largest, the wings being 16 mm. long. Whether 

 Glossina originated in the eastern or western hemisphere is doubtful, 

 since there are no closely related genera known, and no true Muscids 

 have been found in the Colorado Miocene shales. 



Derivaux (R. C). The Relation of the Railroads in the South to the 

 Problem of Malaria and its Control. — U. S. Public Health Repts., 

 Washington, B.C., xxxiii, no. 31, 2nd August 1918, pp. 1267-1271. 



Public works, and more especially railroad construction operations, 

 have long been notorious for their incidental contributions to malarial 

 problems, by creating conditions favouring the development of 

 Anopheline mosquitos. Among such conditions are : — Badly located 

 and undrained borrow-pits, sometimes traversing thickly settled 

 communities ; right-of-way ditches, improperly cut and without 

 outlets ; improperly placed culverts and crossings installed with the 

 idea of saving in pipes or masonry, preventing the flow of normal 

 and storm waters, or even interfering with a whole system of natural 

 drainage ; inadequate provision for drainage behind or through 

 embanlcments ; installation of leaky water-towers, or failure of 

 provision to carry off their overflow. 



Railroad construction is also responsible for the dissemination of 

 infection through laboiu? gangs, which, often badly infected, are 

 moved from place to place and housed in cars permitting the 

 unrestricted access of mosquitos. 



Much can be done towards the solution of this great problem by 

 gradually improving existing conditions, and by doing everything 

 possible to prevent their occurrence in connection with new works. 



Work undertaken by railroads in dealing with the malaria problem 

 naturally falls into two groups, that of the engineering departments 

 and that of the medical and sanitary ones. In the former group 

 is included the correction of old construction conditions such as : — ■ 

 Drainage or filling of borrow-pits and low areas. where) practicable ; 



