1916] Entomology in the British Empire 15 



crops that are grown, has naturally been seriously handicapped 

 by hitherto well nigh insuperable factors. Nevertheless, much 

 pioneer work has been accompHshed and a considerable amount 

 of information has been collected regarding the insect pests 

 occurring in the various territories. Mr. A. D. Peacock, late 

 Entomologist for Southern Nigeria, has published an extensive 

 report on the insect pests of that region and Mr. W. H. Patterson 

 on the Gold Coast and Mr. A. W. Jobbins-Pomeroy in Nigeria, 

 are prosecuting their investigations with a zeal" that is not 

 checked by the primitive and backward conditions of native 

 agriculture, the difficulties of travel or the inadequacy of 

 laboratory accommodation, assistance or entomological equip- 

 ment. To those entomologists brought up and accustomed 

 to work in the lap of luxury so far as facihties and apparatus 

 for entomological investigations are concerned, the difficulties 

 with which the British entomologists working in these tropical 

 colonies have to contend are inconceivable. That they are 

 able to accompHsh so much is proof of their intense enthusiasm 

 for their work and their abihty to withstand conditions and 

 surmount obstacles which would conquer any but the strongest 

 natures. 



The widespread prevalence of tropical diseases, particularly 

 malaria and human Trypanosomiasis, led the Imperial Bureau 

 of Entomology to undertake extensive surveys of the dis- 

 tribution of the blood-sucking insects of West Africa and Dr. 

 J. J. Simpson has been conducting such an investigation. 

 He has collected an enormous amount of valuable data and has 

 made observations of great importance as a perusal of his 

 numerous excellent reports which have been published in the 

 Bulletin of Entomological Research will show. His investigations 

 which are being continued at the present time constitute one 

 of the most important phases of the Imperial Bureau's work. 



Australia. 



A visitor to AustraHa is impressed with the abundance of 

 insect life, particularly in the tropical and sub-tropical regions 

 of the continent and, while little more than the fringe of the 

 possible agricultural regions of the country has been utilized, 

 if we except the sheep grazing sections, where production of 

 deciduous and citrus fruits and sugar is being actively developed, 

 the inevitable disturbance of the natural equilibrium and the 



