172 JAS. J. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



quartered there only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the following day is almost totally 

 neglected. Consequently one finds all sorts of rubbish and water-holding 

 receptacles, e.g., empty tins, hidden in the grass around. To these and many 

 similar water-collecting utensils seen in a scrap-iron heap attached to the railway 

 workshops may be attributed the large number of mosquitos which invade the 

 rest-house. 



According to the Medical Officer in charge of Bo during my visit, the 

 supervision of this area does not come under his jurisdiction, and certainly no one 

 else takes any interest in the matter — a truly lamentable state of affairs which 

 ought to be altered in justice to the health of the visitor who pays nightly for 

 his quarters. 



The predominant mosquito is Anopheles costalis, but Toxorkynchites brevipalpis 

 is also common. Glossina palpalis is frequently seen here, but not in any great 

 numbers, while numerous Tabanus brumpti have been caught in the bungalows 

 around the light in the evenings. It is rather characteristic of this species, as 

 well as of T. subangustus, that it is nocturnal in its habits and is attracted by light. 

 Stomoxys nigra was found in the train at Blama, but whether it actually breeds 

 there or was conveyed some distance by the train is not certain. Tabanus 

 kingsleyi occurs at Kennema and G. palpalis on the south side of the railway 

 from the station. At Hangha G. palpalis is common, and the dogs there were 

 infested by Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus simus, while at Segbwima, 

 about 20 miles further on, Tabanus pluto was captured. At Baiima G. palpalis, 

 G. fusca, and T. besti var. arbucklei were seen in numbers. 



Daru, the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Battalion of the West African 

 Frontier Force, is situated on the Moa River about 213 miles from Freetown. 

 The cantonments lie in the angle formed by the railway and the river, but the 

 native town is on the opposite side of the river about a mile further on. Some of 

 the Officers' quarters are placed along the top of a bank overlooking the railway, 

 but the others are situated on high ground along the river bank. The native 

 lines are laid out in such a manner as to extend inward from the river bank some 

 distance higher up than the European reserve. 



Owing to the untiring efforts of Drs. Murphy and Powell the blood-sucking 

 insect fauna of Daru is now very well known. Thanks, however, to the energy 

 of these two Officers and Col. Newstead, the Officer Commanding the Battalion, 

 the number of insects now seen is not commensurate with what might be expected 

 from an examination of the list of species. 



The following have been recorded from the immediate vicinity of the 

 cantonments : — Glossina palpalis, Stomoxys calcitrans, Tabanus pluto, T. ruficrus, 

 T. fasciatus, T. besti, T. besti var. arbucklei, T. secedens, T. thoracinus, T. 

 marmorosus, T. postacutus, Aust., LI.,* Stegomyia fasciata, S. apicoargentea, 

 Culex invidiosus, Eretmopodites chrysogaster, Ochlerotatus cumminsi, and Toxor- 

 kynchites brevipalpis. 



As may be surmised, G. palpalis and the various species of Tabanus are 

 confined chiefly to the bank of the river, but, especially in the wet season, one 



* [A. description and figure of this new species will be published by Mr. Austen in the next 

 part of this Bulletin. — Ed.] 



