986 The American Naturalist. [November, 
enterprise by sea, and of Jackson’s Expedition across Franz Joseph 
land. When once the way is open, science will send its votaries to the 
field which is awaiting them. 
Peary’s observations and collections in Ethnology, Meteorology and 
other departments on Inglefield Gulf will repay the cust of the ex- 
pedition; and the results of the relief expedition, like those of its 
predecessors, are of great value. Large collections were made by the 
latter, which will go to the American Museum of Natural History of 
New York, and the Museum of the University of Kansas. 
—Mr. L. O. Howarp, of the Department of Agriculture of Wash- 
ington, has made a discovery which will probably be of great practical 
importance. He finds that a thin stratum or film of oil on the surface 
of the water where they breed, will destroy the larvze of mosquitoes, 
This will prove welcome news to people living in many localities. How 
to destroy this pest of many parts of the earth has been a subject of 
thought for a long time. The late Dr. Robert Lamborn gave two 
prizes for essays which advocated the propagation of dragon-flies as the 
most feasible mode of attack, since the mosquito is the natural food of 
these raptorial insects; but no one has yet undertaken to demonstrate 
the practicability of the plan. The application of oil to the waters of 
swamps and lagoons where the Culices breed, is a simple matter, and 
the expense will be small in comparison with the advantage gained. 
The use of oil in the valley of the Missouri River, and on many parts 
of our coast, would increase the value of the land to an untold degree. 
In fact, the habitable part of the earth in many latitudes must be 
greatly increased in extent by this discovery. Meanwhile we must be 
content to let these small creatures render life miserable or impossible, 
and hide behind “ bars” which do not always protect, or suffocate in 
stinking smudges, until the use of oil for their destruction becomes 
general. In waters which are not private property, it will be well for 
the States to lead the way, and make appropriations for the purpose. 
RECENT LITERATURE. * 
Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission for 1893.\—The con- 
tents of this volume comprise the papers that were read at the congress 
? Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission, Vol. XIII, for 1893. Washington, 
1894. 
