296 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



or at The base of grass stems, till hatched bv floods of water at the 

 proper temperature. The first generation is nsually small and 

 does not get far from the marshes. These females oviposit in the 

 mnd. wher-e the eggs imist lie dry or nearly so for three or four 

 days before they can hatch, after which the larvae may appear in 

 immense numbers after a high tide or heavy rain. Most of the 

 eggs ar^ high enough, so that they are reached only by exceptional 

 tides or storm-driven water, and as a consequence swarm after 

 swarm of mosquitos may hatch from the same ground at irregular 

 intervals, depending on high tides, unusual rain or storms. This 

 may continue even till early September. Dr Smith's observations 

 show that no gravid females occurred on the Xewark meadows 

 between early September and the middle of October, and that con- 

 sequently most of the eggs must have been deposited prior to that 

 time. 



The salt marsh mosquito is somewhat unique on account of its 

 traveling long distanc-es either by flight or by allowing itself to be 

 conveyed by prevailing winds. Dr Smith states that the migra- 

 tion begins soon after the adults emerge and that after the middle 

 of July the entir-e pine region of South Jersey gradually becomes 

 filled with these insects, where they swarm miles from any water, 

 and at least 40 miles from any point where larvae of this species 

 have ever been found. This migratory habit is remarkable com- 

 X->ared with what is known of other species, yet Dr Smith has 

 obtained incontrovertible evidence. It is. however, only fair to 

 state that we have failed to note such extended migrations on Long 

 Island, and we are inclined to the- opinion that, as a rule, local 

 control by township or village aft'ords excellent protection from 

 this mosquito. Dr Smith has also given some interesting observa- 

 tions Illative to the jjossibility of this species being conveyed by 

 trains. He has repeatedly noticed the influx of mosquitos when 

 trains entered a region infested by this species, and likewise ob- 

 served their departui^e as the infested area was passed, showing 

 that relatively few were conveyed in this manner. 



The breeding places of this species are of great importance 

 wherever any attempt is made to reduce its numbers. The salt 



