REPORT OX MOSQUITOES. 319 



has only the short hair tufts. The scales of the lateral patches 

 on the eighth segment are small, from twenty-eight to fifty in 

 each patch, irregularly arranged. The single scale has long 

 fringes at the sides and apex, as shown in figure 98, 9. The 

 anal siphon (fig. 98, 7) is long and slender, not concave, evenly 

 tapered, varying in length from five to seven times its width 

 at the base. There are from twelve to eighteen spines in each 

 lateral row, extending about one-third from the base, the indi- 

 vidual spines are broad and light-colored, with three or four 

 teeth each ; a small short tuft terminates each row and there are 

 several smaller ones toward the apex. The ninth segment is 

 slightly longer than broad, with the hairs in the ventral row^ of 

 tufts rather short and the double dorsal tuft mostly with very 

 long hairs. 



Habits of the Early Stages. 



The tgg boats of this species seem to disintegrate rapidly and 

 are rarely found. The larvae occur everywhere on the marsh 

 in salt as well as fresh water, but as a rule they are more abundant 

 along the edges of the highland than nearer the shore. No 

 specimens have been collected prior to the last days of May, 

 though as they were then two-thirds grown, it is probable that 

 the middle of May is about the date of their first appearance. 

 They increase in numbers as the season advances and continue 

 until late October. Ordinarily they are found in tolerably clean 

 water and when in company with the stumpy tailed w'rigglers 

 of the other marsh species they are readily recognized. 



CULEX MELANURUS, COO. 



The Black-tailed Mosquito. 



This is a rather small mosquito, dark brown in color, w'ith legs 

 and beak unhanded. The wings are unspotted and the segments 

 of the abdomen have the merest indications of white bands at 

 their base. 



Description of the Achdt. 



This small mosquito could easily be taken for C. pipiens, 

 especially if the latter w^ere worn so as to render the banding 

 obscure; it is, however, smaller and of a richer brown color. 

 The body, exclusive of the beak, measures 4-5 mm., or about 



