152 DB. J. KIRK ON THE TSETSE ELY OE TROPICAL AERICA. 



Captain Burton met with " Tsetse " between Tanganyika and 

 the coast* ; and the native name given to it by him very closely 

 resembles that in use on the Eovuma river, where we found it 

 abundant. Specimens, however, from the Lake regions are not 

 to be found in the British Museum. 



In reference to this I have been kindly favoured with the fol- 

 lowing note from Captain Burton : — 



" I certainly sent the ' Tsetse ' to the British Museum, and saw 

 it there in 1860. The only proof that the fly in question (by 

 which I was often stung) kiUs cattle, especially cows, is the uni- 

 versal report of the natives of diiferent and distant tribes. One 

 of our cows died in Unyamwezi, and all who saw her declared it 

 was the fly's poison. I have told all I know about it in the 

 * Lake Eegions.' " (Signed) " E. F. Burton." 



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 dis- 

 trict 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 Palls, it was again found ; also 

 at the junction of the Chobe ; and in immense numbers on the 

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



On the Eovuma river in south latitude 10° 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 " Chipanga ;" 

 " Kipanga " being that given to it at Kilwa, according to Capt. 

 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 air, the " Tsetse " is dull and sluggish, resting on the under 

 side of some leaf or blade of grass ; when forced to take wing they 

 may then be easily caught. 



Even at nine o'clock they are not very active, and fly about 

 with a peculiar buzzing sound ; with the heat of the day they 

 become a real annoyance to the traveller, constantly biting him 

 on the hands, face, or neck, dextrously evading a blow, and again 

 alighting on the very spot from which they have been driven. If 

 permitted, they will gorge themselves with blood and become 

 * Lake Eegions of Central Africa. 



