﻿RESEARCH IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 181 



been experienced by the authorities in having this area drained or filled in, and 

 the native feeling is so strong that for the present the idea has to be abandoned. 

 It is to be hoped, however, that soon this prejudice will be overcome, to the 

 lasting good of the European quarter. This station has the unenviable repu- 

 tation of being almost, if not quite, the most unhealthy in Southern Nigeria. 

 The present situation of the European bungalows is in the direct line of the 

 prevailing wind which blows over the swamp mentioned. The bungalows are 

 continually infested with mosquitos, and the following species are extremely 

 abundant: — Myzomyia funesta, M. costalis, Mansonioides uniformis, Culex grahami 

 and Culiciomyia nebulosa. 



On the steamer between Afikpo and Itu numerous specimens of the following 

 species of blood-sucking flies were obtained : — Glossina palpalis, Tabanus 

 fasciatus, T. secedens, T. socialis, T. taeniola and T. thor acinus. At the town 

 of Itu Chrysops silacea, Tabanus secedens and Glossina palpalis have been 

 caught. 



Aro-Chuku. — Nearly the whole of this district is undulating and broken, and a 

 large part of it is under water during the wet season. On the right bank of the 

 river the bush is thin and there is a fair amount of cultivation, but on the left the 

 bush is much more dense and the country is practically uninhabited. Goats are 

 almost the only domestic animals kept, and game is scarce. 



Uyo. — South of Aro-Chuku is the district of Uyo. The centre is flat, the east 

 is hilly, but towards the west the country is open and extensively cultivated. 

 The bush contains many oil-palms ; ifc is very thick on the banks of the river and 

 creeks and in the west and south-west portions of the district. There are no 

 horses and cattle ; sheep and goats are scarce ; none of them are bred systemati- 

 cally. Hippopotami and crocodiles are to be found in the river, but inland there 

 are only a few harnessed antelope, leopard, pig, wild cats and monkeys. 



From Odut on the left bank of the river Tabanus subangustus and T. obscure- 

 fumatus have been recorded. 



Calabar. — The whole district is hilly, but there are no very marked ranges. 

 The country is densely covered with forest, thickest in the north-west near Uwet, 

 and least in the north-east or Akpaboyo country, where there is a considerable 

 amount of cultivation. In the southern part, towards the German frontier and 

 the sea, there is an extensive mangrove belt intersected by numerous creeks. 



The town of Calabar is large and important ; it is the headquarters of the 

 Eastern Province and a busy seaport. The only Tabanids actually seen within 

 the precincts of the town were T. socialis and Chrysops silacea, and though the 

 number of different species of mosquitos was comparatively large, the actual 

 number of individuals was far from excessive — a fact which says much for the 

 systematic prophylactic measures inaugurated by the Senior Medical Officer. 

 The following species were obtained : — Myzomyia costalis, Culex insignis, C. rima, 

 Culiciomyia nebulosa, Ochlerotatus domesticus and Hodgesia sanguinis. The 

 occurrence of the last-named species is remarkable, as, prior to this, the only 

 other locality from which it has been recorded is Entebbe, the capital of 

 Uganda. 



