398 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Vol. XX. 



or not at all. As a result of some thousands of observations upon 

 one species, M. rossi, we are justified in concluding that it takes no 

 part in the dissemination of malaria. 



In view of these facts, it becomes necessary for us to learn 

 as much as possible about the mosquitoes, particularly the ano- 

 pheles mosquitoes, of Bombay ; and the question as to whether or 

 not malaria can be reduced or eradicated from the city can only be 

 answered by those who have sufficient knowledge of the natural 

 history of its mosquitoes. 



Now a careful examination of a considerable portion of the 

 island has shown that there are five species of anopheles mosquitoes 

 present : — N. stephensi, N. jamesi, M. barbirostris, M. culicifacies and 

 M. rossi. 



The latter species of anopheles, which as I have mentioned pre- 

 viously, does not appear to be concerned in the dissemination 

 of malaria in any part of India, may be found in large numbers in 

 every part of the island. The other species are present in much 

 smaller numbers and appear to be more or less restricted to certain 

 localities. N. stephensi can be found with varying frequency in 

 nearly every part of the southern portion of the city, but appears 

 to be absent from the north of the island. N. jamesi occurs 

 at Malabar Hill, the neighbourhood of the Gowalia Tank, the 

 Mazagaon reservoirs, and in other places in the centre and north 

 of the island. M. barbirostris may be found in scanty numbers 

 in the south of the island, but is fairly common in the northern 

 half. M. culicifacies has only been found in about, a dozen places 

 in the north of the island. In the majority of cases where N. 

 jamesi and M. barbirostris have been found breeding in the south 

 of the island, they have occurred in association with N. stephensi. 



M. culicifacies has long been known as a dangerous carrier of 

 malaria, and as I have already pointed out, we now know, thank* 

 to Captain Liston. that, N. stephensi is also an active agent in the 

 propagation of the disease. Both M. barbirostris and N. jamesi. 

 though potential carriers, do not appear to be very dangerous ones, 

 and fortunately they only occur in scanty numbers in the city 

 proper. Practically, then, we are justified in assuming that over 

 the greater part of Bombay we have only to deal with one dangerous 



