i82 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



lancets that they can be very readily taken with vials and in one 

 hour I took one hundred specimens in this way. Working pools 

 for larvae, with both hands occupied, in a locality where they are 

 present, is most unbearable, for with the hands wet their reluc- 

 tance to leave is still greater and they may be crushed by simply 

 laying the finger upon them. At one time a mosquito rested upon 

 the back of my hand and before she got a hold I disturbed her by 

 sliding my finger towards her ; she rose hastily about four inches 

 and immediately descended on the same spot ; nine times was this 

 repeated, the insect each time rising four or five inches and alight- 

 ing within half an inch of the same spot ; the tenth time she 

 moved about two inches and I let her get a good bite, then dis- 

 turbed her in the same way. As fast as I could remove my finger 

 she was back again and only lost heart at the nineteenth time 

 when she flew on my clothing and was bottled. This was re- 

 peated many times with other individuals but the experiment was 

 not carried so far. 



The testimony of the other collectors is to the same point and 

 there is no doubt that this species shares with Culex aurifer the 

 first rank for persistence in the mosquito tribe. Though the 

 experiments made by Mr. Grossbeck and Mr. Brakeley were 

 similar in character they were made without concert or knowledge 

 of the other's ^^ork. 



The species is not an early one and the first out-door captures 

 were made at Spring Lake, near Trenton,. June 30, by Mr. Gross- 

 beck. July 17 and 23 specimens occurred in small numbers on 

 the College Farm near New Brunswick and on the 28th and 29th 

 they were found in the woods at Livingston Park, near the same 

 city. July 28th they were also found in a woodland swamp at 

 Little Ferry, in Bergen County. August 8th, specimens were 

 captured at Hackensack, and on the College Farm. Throughout 

 August the species was found at the various places already men- 

 tioned and Mr. Grossbeck had his experience in the Great Piece 

 M'eadows about the middle of this month. At the latter locality 

 specimens were obtained, flying, as late as September 9th. The 

 species seems to confine itself to wooded areas exclusively and to 

 prefer those which are low, swampy and cold. It is a matter of 

 some interest that in no stage has the insect been found as yet 

 below the red shale belt. None of the collections made indicate 

 that it is at any time a house mosquito. 



As to the matter of hibernation nothing is really known so 

 far as I am aware. It is altogether probable that the winter is 

 passed in the egg stage and altogether possible that the egg may 

 become dry at times; but none of the other species known to me 



