326 .TAS. .T. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



by Dr. W. D. Inness. The following species from the siirrounding districts were 

 also collected by Dr. W. D. Inness : — 



Glossina ■palpalh at " Yelwa Ford on the Kontagora River" (5. x. 09). 



Glossina tacJiinoides „ " Kontagora River, 1 mile S.W. of town " (26. viii. 09). 

 „ „ „ " Valley of Kontagora R., between Mudangi and 



Adala " (7. viii. 09). 

 „ „ ,, "Banana plantation at Adala, on Kontagora R. " 



(8. viii. 09). 

 „ „ „ "Yelwa Ford, Kontagora R." (5. x. 09). 



Glosiiui siihmorsitans ,, the first three localities cited for G. tachmoides, on 

 the same dates. 



Mr. P. de Putron, the Assistant Resident at Bussa, also collected specimens of 

 G. palpalis at Kulfu, and Tahanus par at Jeri. Both these places are in the 

 Bussa District of the Kontagora Province. All the above records have been 

 included on the map. 



From Kontagora to Yelwa, the country varies in character at different parts, 

 and is much more hilly than the previous section, especially when nearing the 

 valley of the Niger. The first part of the road, namely to Osubu, ' is fairly level 

 and swampy, with a considerable amount of scrub. One specimen of Glossina 

 palpalis, the first on this trip, was caught close to one of the swamps, in a cluster 

 of dense bush. The headquarters of the Kontagora Province used to be at 

 Osubu, but were removed in 1905 for various reasons, one of which, according to 

 the Resident, being the enormous mortality of liorses in the station. The roads, 

 grass and bushes were swai-ming with small ticks, and a walk in the grass resulted 

 in one's legs being simply covered with them ; it is often stated that these will 

 not bite man, but the writer's experience does not in any way bear this out. 

 The species found were Rliipicephalus sanguineus, R. simus and Haemaphysalis 

 leachi. G. palpalis occurs in numbers in Osubu. 



The road to Massamabu passes through open country with abundant high 

 grass and thin scrub. About half-way, the River Kontagora, which runs south- 

 west and joins the Niger nearly opposite the junction of the River Oli with the 

 latter, lias to be crossed by means of rafts. While waiting here, I secured one 

 specimen of G. palpalis. At and around Massamabu tlie following blood- 

 sucking insects were caught -.— Tabanus suhan(j%istns, Haematopota hullatifrons, 

 H. lacessens, H. puniens, Glossina palpalis, G. tacJiinoides and Simulium sp. 

 Simulium was especially troublesome between 4 and 6 in the evening. When 

 this insect has finished feeding, a small drop of blood is generally left adhering 

 to the wound. The position of the bite is afterwards indicated by a bright 

 red spot, surrounded by an irregular discoloured purplish area which remains for 

 several days. 



Heavy rain fell throughout the night, but early in the morning it cleared up. 

 No sooner, however, had we started for Anaba than a downpour commenced, and 

 continued the whole day. Work was impossible, so a halt was made at Ibeto. 

 No flies of any description were seen. About 10 o'clock next morning, the rain 

 having partially stopped after 39 hours' continuous downpour, a start was again 



* Osubu is not marked on the map, but lies about four miles from Kontagora. 



