^ oefLtc^rrx 



Mosquito Remedies and Enemies 133 



stench that arose from their decomposing bodies. We 

 will leave its description to our farmer colleagues who 

 own a plantation." 



Polly wogs do not eat larvae, though the fishes are 

 so fond of the latter. Both the salt- and fresh-water 

 killies, top feeders, devour them voraciously. These 

 fish will live in cisterns and rain-water barrels, though 

 in the latter, at least, they do not breed. The fresh- 

 water killie is apt to eat the eggs of more valuable 

 species, according to Mr. Seal, but, where there are 

 none such, may be very useful. Mr. Viereck has 

 determined its value as a devourer of larvae so that, 

 as it is, according to Dr. Bean, " one of the best of its 

 family for aquarium purposes, as it thrives and breeds 

 in captivity," it would be, as Dr. Smith suggests, 

 worth experimenting with in cisterns. The top min- 

 now was one of 

 the first enemies 

 of the mosquito to 

 be pressed into ser- 

 vice. As a surface 

 feeder, an active 

 species, fond of fre- 

 quenting masses 

 of vegetation and 

 borders of ponds, 

 and as a rapid 

 breeder, it is the 

 most efficient of 

 all, being able to 

 live in fresh or brackish water and in restricted areas. 



The roach in ponds ; the goldfish in fountains, 



Fig. 26. — Comb of larva ot Anoplules 

 maculipainis (greatly enlarged). 



