562 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XII. No. 302. 



habits of Anopheles mosquitoes are quite dif- 

 ferent from those of the genus Culex, and 

 the figures illustrating the differences are 

 very instructive. Anopheles larvse inhabit 

 mostly ' fairly permanent stagnant pools of 

 water uninhabited by fish, but more or less 

 covered with green scum.' Many other im- 

 portant and interesting new facts recorded 

 in this portion of the bulletin cannot be 

 mentioned in this brief review. 



The three other genera of mosquitoes, 

 Psorophora, Megarhinus and Aedes, found in 

 the United States, are briefly discussed and 

 the adult of one species in each genus is 

 figured. The natural enemies of mosqui- 

 toes, such as dragon flies, water beetles 

 larvEe, fish and birds, are succinctly dis- 

 cussed. 



Nearly 16 pages of the bulletin are de- 

 voted to what is undoubtedly the best and 

 fullest discussion of ' remedies against mos- 

 quitoes ' in entomological literature. Dr. 

 Howard's previous articles on the kerosene 

 treatment of breeding places are condensed, 

 and many suggestions from experience and 

 from published records for preventing and 

 alleviating mosquito bites are included. 

 The effective methods of destroying the 

 larvse by the use of kerosene on the water, 

 the proper drainage of the land, the prac- 

 tical use of fish, the agitation of the in- 

 fested water are discussed in detail. Other 

 unsuccessful experiments with larvicides, 

 such as permanganate of potash and several 

 proprietary mixtures are recorded. A most 

 extensive series . of experiments with culi- 

 cidal mixtures made in Italy are briefly ab- 

 stracted, and unsatisfactory experiments 

 with tar and its compounds are given in 

 detail. Some strong evidence is given to 

 show that eucalyptus trees are valuable 

 malarial deterrents. Still more evidence 

 may be found in the writings of forestry 

 experts who think that the planting of 

 these trees in suitable regions may accom- 

 plish wonderful results in reducing malaria 



either by drainage of the soil or by modi- 

 fying the water so as to render it uninhabi- 

 table for mosquitoes. While it is true that 

 the planting of eucalyptus trees is not a 

 sovereign remedy, as Dr. Nuttall points 

 out, for malaria still prevails at Tre Fon- 

 tane, outside of Rome, in spite of the plant- 

 ing of these trees, I am told by a forestry 

 expert who has visited this place that before 

 the plantings it was utterly uninhabitable, 

 while now monks and workmen live there, 

 and malaria is much reduced. 



The bulletin closes with a strong plea for 

 ' drainage and community work,' and strik- 

 ing instances are given where wonderful re- 

 sults have been attained. 



In an appendix is given a translation of 

 Meinert's brief, earlier account of the larva 

 of Anopheles, and several paragraphs of a 

 very important report of the Malarial Ex- 

 pedition of the Liverpool School of Tropical 

 Medicine which was received too late to 

 incorporate in the body of the bulletin. In 

 this latter report are recorded many im- 

 portant observations on the bionomics of 

 Anopheles larvae and adults. 



From a popular, biologic or scientific 

 standpoint, this bulletin on mosquitoes is a 

 very important, instructive, interesting and 

 useful addition to the world's entomological 

 literature. 



M. V. Slingerland. 



Cornell University. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 

 The Norwegian North Polar Expedition, 1893- 

 1896. Scientific Results. Edited by Feidtjof 

 Nansen. New York, Longmans, Green & 

 Co. 1900. 4to. Pp. viii + 379, 46 plates. 

 In this sumptuous volume we have the first 

 instalment of the scientific results of the cele- 

 brated North Polar expedition led by Dr. 

 Nansen. The series is intended to contain a 

 complete account of the scientific harvest of 

 the expedition, and will doubtless form the 

 standard work of reference for all scientific 

 data of the North Polar basin for many years 



