REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 33 



two pairs of lateral structures, whose office is to elaborate or 

 manufacture the material, which is stored in the central portion. 

 From the base of this reservoir a fine tube or duct leads toward 

 the head, within which it joins the similar tube of the other side, 

 forming a larger tube for conveying the poison to the beginning 

 of the epipharynx. When the insect attacks a victim all the 

 piercing structures are forced into the skin as one mass and a 

 droplet of saliva slides into the puncture almost as soon as it is 

 made. The pumping operation begins immediately thereafter 

 and may be observed as pulsations of the abdomen as it grad- 

 ually fills with blood. It takes about three minutes for an insect 

 to complete its meal and then it flies away, rests in some conven- 

 ient spot until the blood is digested and is then ready for another 

 attack. 



BITE CURES. 



All sorts of remedies for mosquito bites have been recom- 

 mended, but nothing serves as well on the whole as the stronger 

 water of ammonia. It may be applied undiluted or at half 

 strength to the point of irritation. Preparations of cresol or 

 carbolic acid, like phenol sodique or camphenol, are excellent, and 

 in fact any astringent or soothing lotion will be of use. One of 

 the simplest of the "old housewife's" remedies is the juice of an 

 onion to be applied to the bite. There are others, varying in the 

 degree of usefulness, but a list of these is scarcely needed. In 

 those cases where there is much swelling or puffiness. a solution 

 of baking soda forming a thin paste often gives great relief. 



In any case scratching or otherwise irritating the bites should 

 be avoided as much as possible. 



POWERS OF EEIGHT. 



It is easy to be mistaken concerning a mosquito's powers of 

 flight, and the records as they stand are distinctly misleading. 

 No mosquitoes fly during a high wind in the day time, nor during 

 a very heavy wind, even in the evening. Most species, indeed, 

 do not fly at all during the day, and only those species are trouble- 

 some that hide normally in the grass and are disturbed by walk- 

 ing through it. It is also true that mosquitoes keep down low 

 and seek the sheltered spots when the winds are strong, even in 

 the evening; but it is equally certain that some of them will get 

 in at fourth and fifth story windows in cities. I have actually 

 seen this and have received specimens collected as they came in by 

 correspondents who made observations for me. 

 3 MO 



