236 AGRICULTURx\L EXPERIMENT STATION. 



is found above the marsh line, it is possible that some may lay 

 eggs which in most instances fail to develop. 



In New Jersey cantator dominates the Newark, Elizabeth and 

 Raritan meadows early in the season. If the year is favorable, 

 the early start will carry this dominance to midsummer or even 

 through the summer. At the Barnegat shore cantator shares 

 with sollicitans the early honors, but becomes steadily less as 

 the season advances, leaving sollicitans in almost sole possession. 

 At Atlantic City and Cape May I found no cantator during the 

 period when they were swarming further north, though the 

 species does occur there in small numbers throughout the 

 summer. Mr. Brakeley's records show that they must have bred 

 on the Mullica River marshes in greater number than sollicitans 

 during the present year; but that is probably the southern limit 

 of their dominance, and in ordinary seasons it does not extend 

 so far. Just why they should be more plentiful on the northern 

 marshes I do not know, nor what prevents their development 

 along the southern shore. 



In 1903 I found no appearance of cantator dominance south 

 of Sandy Hook; in 1904, as soon as the May swarm developed, 

 I sent Mr. Brehme along the Barnegat shore to Manahawkin, 

 where he found them everywhere, while I sent Mr. Dickerson to 

 Cape May and went myself to Atlantic City, finding only sollici- 

 tans in both places. Twice, in June, I visited Cape May and at 

 neither times found cantator. 



Cantator enters houses freely where they are open ; but is 

 easily kept out bv ordinar}^ screening. It does not seek opportu- 

 nities, but when attracted l3y light or the human odor it will come 

 indoors much more readily than sollicitans. Among the indoor 

 captures by Mr. Buchholz, this species is well represented throug- 

 out the season, scarcely yielding at times tO' pipicns. It comes to 

 porches readily enough and does not hesitate about getting into 

 the breeziest corners. 



As a biter, cantator stands in the front rank, and it is persist- 

 ent in its attack. It does no unnecessary singing and is not es- 

 peciallv deliberate in chosing a point of attack. It proceeds to 

 business at once, and while its bite is not so "hot" as that of 

 sollicitans, i. e., it does not give the intense burning sensation, 

 it is reall}' more painful and more lasting in its effects. 



It might be added that this species flies during the day and 

 bites when opportunity offers ; but it is not so active as sollicitans 

 in this respect and rises onlv when disturbed. It is essentially an 

 evening mosquito. 



