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CONCERNING GLOSSJJVA MOESITANS. 



The recent outbreaks of trypanosomiasis among cattle in certain districts 

 o£ Southern EhoJesia have again emphasised the urgent need for a fuller 

 scientific investigation into the causation of this disease, and the possible 

 means of prevention. Little practical progress has been made since Bruce's 

 admirable reports on the subject, but the valuable work which he initiated in 

 Zululand requires to be confirmed and extended in Tropical Africa. For at 

 the time of his enquiry it was supposed that the trypanosomiases of domestic 

 animals were due to a single species of trypanosome, which was conveyed by 

 a single species of Glossina. Now, however, it is known that, both as 

 regards the protozoon and the transmitting insect, two or more species may 

 be involved ; so that the problem assumes a considerably greater complexity. 

 In these circumstances any hasty conclusions as to the best methods of 

 extirpating the disease, or diseases, are to be deprecated, pending an authori- 

 tative investigation into several aspects of the question, concerning which we 

 are at present deplorably ignorant. 



The Entomological Research (Committee has recently appointed a Sub- 

 committee, under the chairmanship of Sir John McFadyean, Principal of the 

 Royal Veterinary College, London, whose object it will be to accumulate 

 evidence and to stimulate observations with reference to this subject. The 

 other members of the Subcommittee are : — Mr. E. E. Austen, of the British 

 Museum (Natural History) ; Dr. A. G. Bagshawe, Director of the Sleeping 

 Sickness Bureau ; Prof. G. H. F. Nuttall, F.R.S., Quick Professor of 

 Zoology, Cambridge ; Mr. Stewart Stockman, Chief Veterinary Officer to 

 the Board of Agriculture ; and Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall (Scientific 

 Secretary) . 



The Subcommittee have drafted the following brief survey of some of the 

 more important points, concerning which further observations and experi- 

 ments are much needed. They will always be pleased to receive from field 

 observers any information bearing upon these subjects. Communications 

 should be sent to the Scientific Secretary, Entomological Research Committee, 

 British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W. 



I. The General Habits, etc., of Glossina mobsitans. 



Jhly-areas. — Exact descriptions are needed of areas where the flies are 

 found, with notes as to altitude, proportion of trees or woody scrub to grass, 

 soil, rain-fall, etc. Similar areas where no flies are found should be studied 

 to find out wherein the fly-area and the non-fly areas differ. The soil and 

 the vegetation should be compared, and the co-operation of a botantist is 



BULL. ENT. RES. VOL. I. PART 11. JULY I9IO. 



