18 MOSQUITOES 



which has been collected, and especially by that adduced 

 by Mrs. C. B. Aaron in her essay in the little book en- 

 titled " Dragon-flies versus Mosquitoes " (The Lamborn 

 Essays, Appleton k Co., 1890), that mosquitoes are very 

 careful not to take wing during a strong breeze. Mrs. 

 Aaron's words are worth quoting : 



The migration of mosquitoes has been tlie source of much mis- 

 apprehension on tlie part of tlie public. The idea prevalent at 

 our seaside resorts that a land breeze brings the swarms of mos- 

 quitoes from far inland, is based on the supposition that this in- 

 sect is capable of long-sustained flight and a certain amount of 

 battling against the wind. This is an error. Mosquitoes are 

 frail of wing ; a light puff of breath will illustrate this by hurl- 

 ing the lielpless creature away, and it will not venture on the 

 wing again for some time after finding a safe harbor. The preva- 

 lence of mosquitoes during a land breeze is easily explained. It is 

 usually only during the lulls in the wind at such times, that 

 Culex can fly. Generally on our coast a sea-breeze means a stiff 

 breeze, and during these even the Odonata, and often the robust 

 and venturesome Tabanid*, will be found hovering on the lee- 

 ward side of the houses, sand-dunes, and thick foliage. In the 

 meadows south of xVtlantic City, N. J., large swarms of Culex are 

 sheltered in the dense grass or wind-battered tree-tops on the off 

 side of the sand-dunes. Here, in common with all localities so 

 exposed to searching wind, the trees and large bushes are much 

 stunted in growth and battered down to a flat top and common 

 level by the wind. In these matted branches, dense with the 

 close-clustered foliage, the mosquitoes may be discovered in such 

 numbers as to bring despair to the heart of the student who is 

 plotting their final extermination. While the strong breezes last, 

 Culex will stick close to these friendlv shelters, though a cluster 



