Slii JOHN KIKK'S OBSERVATIONS. 1:37 



of this pest. We frequently ijiquired of the different 

 tribes if they could help us in our inquiries ; and one of 

 the Makololo remembered that this very question was 

 once under public discussion at Linyanti ; and, as usual, a 

 bet was laid that no one could tell. After a number of 

 days had elapsed, an old man claimed the prize, asserting 

 that the Tsetse laid its eggs, which were of a red colour, 

 on the leaves of the mopane tree. These were probably 

 only the eggs of an insect, described in the ' Missionary 

 Travels,' as depositing over its eggs a sweet gum, which 

 is collected and eaten. Some denied that he had seen 

 them ; others affirmed that the red eggs were laid on the 

 twigs of trees, and not on the leaves ; and others insisted 

 that the eggs were placed in the droppings of buffaloes, 

 and these last were probably in the right. The destruc- 

 tion of all game by the advance of civilization is the only 

 chance of getting rid of the Tsetse" (p. 424). 



28. 1865. Dr. (now Sir) John Kirk. 



" On the ' Tsetse ' Fly of Tropical Africa " {Glossina 

 morsitans, Westwood) (The Journal of the Linnean 

 Society, Vol. VIII., pp. 149-156). 



''During the Zambezi Expedition, the 'Tsetse' Fly 

 has been met with by us on many occasions and at distant 

 parts. It was first seen on the Zambezi at Lupata, a 

 hilly and well-wooded distinct 150 miles from the coast. 

 To the north-east, between the Zambezi and Shire, it is 

 very abundant. In some parts of the Batoka country, near 

 the Victoria Falls, it was again found ; also at the 

 junction of the Chobe ; and in immense numbei-s on the 

 south bank, not far from the confluence of the Kafue. 



"On the Rovuma river in 10° S. Lat. it is met with 

 eight miles from the coast, and extends along its banks 

 for 115 miles, the furthest point explored ; here we found 

 it named ' Chipinga ' ; ' Kipauga ' being that given to it 

 at Kilwa, according to Captain Burton. Wherever met 

 with over this wide area of Tropical Africa south of the 

 equator, the habits of this fly as recorded are the same. 



" It frequents open forest and well-wooded country, 

 being absent from extensive grass plains. In the morning 

 while the dew hangs on the grass, and before the heat of 

 the rising sun has warmed the aii", the ' Tsetse ' is dull 



