PLEA FOR INVESTIGATION OF INDIAN CULICID/#, 599 
no strong current. | In the hills, they are common in pools in water courses, 
They are to be found in all countries from the Tropics to the Polar regions, 
and some species have so wide a distribution as to rival that of man, In all 
countries the adults may be found at all seasons of the year, the maintenance 
of the species being secured by the survival of impregnated females, which 
hide and remain quiescent during seasons unfavourable to the well-being of 
the larve. No instance of survival of quiescent larve is known, but the 
possibility of such a habit should be borne in mind and | oked for. 
In attempting to describe a mosquito, the exact position of all bandings, 
¢.g., Whether at the base or apex of joints and segments, and of all spots on 
the wings, or elsewhere, should be carefully noted. 
The gnat family (Culicidw) includes some seven or eight well-established 
genera, of which the two following are most important :— 
ANOPHELES.—Palpi about as long as the proboscis in both sexes, 
but tapered in the females, while they are clubbed in the males, 
They rest on walls, &c., with the body at an angle to it, the pro- 
boscis pointing at the wall. Their eggs are deposited either singly 
or in small groups ; and their larve have no long breathing tube but 
lie nearly horizontal at the surface of the water, There are about 
30 species. 
CULEX.-—Palpi about as long as the proboscis in the male, but rarely 
clubbed ; very short in the female, Rest on walls with the body par- 
rellel to the surface ; eggs deposited in boat-shaped masses consisting 
of 200 to 300 eggs, Larve: lie in the water as if suspended by the 
tail from the surface, and are provided with a long breathing tube, 
springing from the back of the eighth abdominal segment. There 
are over 160 known species. 
Less important genera are 
AEDES.—Palpi very short in both sexes. 
MEGARHINA.—Palpi usually long in both sexes —Large, brilliantly 
coloured, sylvan species. 
CORETHRA and MOCHLONYX.—Small, hairy gnats, unprovided with 
the usual long proboscis, In the latter genus, the first tarsal joint 
is short. 
COLLECTING. 
O 
Mosquitoes may be collected— 
(2) Byslipping over them a small wide-mouthed bottle, as they sit on 
a wall or window, for which purpose a small “ killing bottle ” is best. 
(6) By means of a net :—Bend 2 yards of stout iron wire so as to form 
a ving 9” in diameter, with a-handle about 2 ft. long, formed of the two 
ends twisted together, The net is a bag 2 ft, deep, secured to the. ring, and 
should be made of fine silk gauze (chiffon) and astrip of cloth should be 
