96 



on the common rats (Mus rattus and M. norvegicus) are concerned in 

 the transmission of plague, investigators should be able to discriminate 

 between the various species of fleas before devising and applying the 

 appropriate remedial measures. Three species of Xenopsylla are 

 described in the present paper, all of which are found on Indian rats, 

 namely X. brasiliensis, Baker, X. cheopis, Roths., and X. astia, Roths. 

 These species occur in widely varying proportions, according to the 

 part of the country in which the hosts are taken ; sometimes two 

 and even all three are to be found on a single rat. A short account of 

 the technique of obtaining and preparing material is given. 



Shircore (J. 0.). Suggestions for the Limitation and Destruction of 



Glossina morsitans. — Bull. Entom. Research, London, v, pt. 1, 

 April 1914, pp. 87-93, 1 map. 



The author bases his suggestions on the existence of what he calls 

 " primary fly centres " as opposed to the areas where the fly is only 

 found at certain seasons ; radiations of the flies occur from these 

 centres to the surrounding neighbourhood in the wet season. When 

 the dry season comes, the primary fly centres are the only regions where 

 the fly can live, the drying up of the surrounding neighbourhood 

 acting as a natural prophylactic measure. It is thought that the fly 

 breeds mainly in these primary centres and the author suggests the 

 isolation of the known centres early in the year by cutting off the 

 forest connections through which radiations take place. The trees, etc., 

 in the isolated centres should then be cut down and left to dry until 

 the heat is at its greatest, when everything in the centre should be 

 burnt ; an extensive limitation of the flies would follow, since at that 

 season the centres are the only regions in which the flies can live. 

 In Nyasaland the radiations begin during the rains ; in August and 

 September (dry season) no flies are to be found except at the primary 

 centres ; certain centres have been located by the author near Domira 

 Bay and are marked on the map accompanying the paper. 



It follows that to apply this method of destruction of G. morsitans, a 

 very exact knowledge of the country is required. Game plays a minor 

 part in influencing the actual habitat of G. morsitans, being often 

 present where there are no flies, or where flies are present in the wet 

 season but absent in the dry. 



The clearing of forests around villages has been found to have 

 beneficial effects, and the author considers that such clearing together 

 with the increase of agriculture, the splitting up of fly belts near 

 villages and along main routes by forest destruction and burning, 

 and the attacking of the fly " centres " will eventually lead the fly to 

 live exclusively in a few regions which need not be traversed by man 

 or domestic animals. 



Austen (E. E.). A Dipterous Parasite of Glossina morsitans. — Bull. 

 Entom. Research, London, v, pt. 1, April 1914, pp. 91-93, 1 fig. 



A dipterous parasite, bred from a puparium of Glossina morsitans, 

 was discovered by L. Lloyd at Ngoa, Northern Rhodesia. The fly 

 proves to belong to the Bombyliidae, and has been named Villa Uoydi, 

 sp. nov. 



