August 9, 1901.] 



SCIENCE. 



219 



Already has the number of workers become 

 numerous, and the literature extensive, while 

 the probability that man will be able to cope 

 with these two dreadful scourges of his race, 

 and at least greatly curtail their ravages is 

 very great. We need, then, the fullest knowl- 

 edge of the structure, habits and transforma- 

 tion of mosquitoes, particularly of the genus 

 Anopheles, the bearer and transmitter of these 

 diseases, and of the nature and life-history of 

 the parasitic organisms which cause these dis- 

 eases. 



As regards the mosquito Dr. Howard has 

 given us a capital book. It is both popular 

 and entertaining, and yet truly careful and 

 scientific in its scope and treatment. The 

 physician cannot do without it. As for the 

 entomologist, we venture to say that nowhere 

 will he find a more fresh and up-to-date account 

 of the mosquito. He will look elsewhere in 

 vain for the many details which have recently 

 been discovered by Dr. Howard and other 

 American and European observers. 



The figures of the diff'erent forms, particu- 

 larly of the malaria-bearer. Anopheles, are new 

 and very carefully drawn ; the larval and 

 pupal forms are rendered with great apparent 

 accuracy. Of the greatest interest is the new 

 matter relating to the subject of parthenogenesis 

 among mosquitoes, the food and mode of getting 

 it by the mosquito larvae, and the food of the 

 adult. The latter subject is treated with a ful- 

 ness of new details which is most satisfactory. 

 It is some comfort to learn that mankind does 

 not form the sole pasturage of the female mos- 

 quitoes, but that they will sting terrapins and 

 puncture the head of young fish, besides suck- 

 ing the blood of birds. We had previously 

 only knoM'n of Dr. Hagen's observation of a 

 mosquito feeding on the chrysalis of a butterfly. 

 We also are told that mosquitoes are plant- 

 feeders, apparently piercing the flowers of the 

 wild cherry, and feeding readily on fruit, especi- 

 ally bananas ; and that the male mosquito is 

 exclusively vegetarian in its diet. 



The life-history and cacology of the malarial 

 mosquito, Anopheles, is very well done. First 

 we have a full and well-illustrated account of 

 the common Culex pungens, with which may be 

 compared, thanks to the abundant and well- 



drawn figures, the life-history and structure of 

 the pestiferous Anopheles. The egg, the larva 

 of different ages, with anatomical details, the 

 pupa, as well as the fly, male and female, are 

 represented, and there is added an account of 

 the North American species. The food of the 

 larva seems to be the spores of algse, and in 

 Sierra Leone a unicellular protococcus. How 

 Anopheles bites and its length of life are also 

 described. 



The chapter on mosquitoes and yellow fever ; 

 mosquitoes and filiariasis ; the account of the 

 mosquito {Stegemyia fasciata) which conveys the 

 infection, with figures of the winged insect, 

 its scales, larva and pupa, are of much value. 

 It is refreshing to read of the immense inroads 

 made by fishes upon the larvse, by dragon flies 

 and by birds, six hundred mosquitoes having 

 been found in the crop of a single night hawk, 

 but it will aflJbrd the reader still more satisfac- 

 tion to know how easily these dangerous pests 

 can be exterminated by the use of so simple a 

 remedy as petroleum. On the last subject the 

 book is strong. 



A. S. Packaed. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 



The following is a list of the papers thus far 

 oifered for the joint meeting of the American 

 Chemical Society and Section C of the A. A. 

 A. S. to be held in Denver during the last week 

 in August : 



1. ' Solid Hydrocarbons of the Series CuHau + i' and 

 Liquid Hydrocarbons of the Series Cl'Hl'u in the Less 

 Volatile Portions of Pennsylvania Petroleum ' (by 

 title): Charles F. Mabeey. 



2. ' Specific Heats and Heats of Volatilization of 

 Hydrocarbons of the Series CuH2„-}-2, CuHsu, and 

 C„H2n-4, in Pennsylvania, Texas, California and 

 Japanese Petroleums' (by title): Charles F. Ma- 

 beey. 



3. ' Composition of Commercial Paraffins, Vase- 

 line, and Solid and Pasty Mixtures of Hydro- 

 carbons, collected in Oil Wells' (by title): Charles 

 F. Mabery. 



4. ' Composition and Properties of Asphalts from 

 Different Petroleums' (by title): Charles F. Ma- 

 bery. 



5. 'Analysis of a Few Southwestern Coals ' ( 10 

 min. ): Herman Poole. 



