226 MOSQUITOES 



larvse or iDupse whole on slides. One of these preserved 

 specimens can be put in a cell with alcohol or g-lj^cerine 

 and studied under a low liower with iDcrfect ease, and the 

 examination of minute details of its anatomy, external 

 and internal, may readily be accomplished by dissection, 

 and the parts dissected out mounted permanently on 

 slides in any of the ordinary media. 



In rearing different species of mosquitoes I have had 

 perfect success in the use of large, cylindrical glass jars 

 known as battery jars. Thej^ can be bought in almost 

 any city and of various sizes. The size which I find most 

 convenient will hold about a gallon of water. A layer 

 of sand an inch or two deep is placed in the bottom 

 of the jar and a quart or more of water poured over it. 

 After the sand has settled and the water has cleared, a bit 

 of almost any small water-plant may be inserted to ad- 

 vantage, provided mosquitoes of the genus Culex are be- 

 ing reared. If the experiment is with Anopheles, how- 

 ever, some fresh-water alga is introduced, such as 

 Spirogyra, Mougeotia, (Edogonium, Cladophora, or Os- 

 cillaria — almost any green scum from stagnant water, in 

 fact. Over the top of the jar is placed a i^iece of swiss, 

 or other fine, translucent cloth, held down by a large rub- 

 ber band. 



The eggs of Culex may be had with ease by exposing 

 a bucket of water out of doors in a mosquito locality on 

 almost any summer night. If the egg masses be trans- 

 ferred from the bucket to the prepared breeding- jar the 

 growth of the larvae can be watched and their transfor- 

 mations can be observed with perfect ease. Occasional 



