x. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
of still greater age, and which had been broken through by 
the volcano at the time of its eruption. Dolerite, however, 
as a matrix for the diamond, was quite unknown in any part 
of the world until the discovery of the specimen alluded to 
was made by Messrs. Pike and O’Donnell, near Inverell. 
There are several other known deposits of similar rock in 
the neighbourhood, and it seems more than probable that 
all the diamonds which have been won in Cope’s Creek 
and the surrounding district have been derived from that 
source. 
British Museum (Natural History), 
Cromwell Road, London, 8S. W. 
BLOOD-SUCKING INSECTS AND TROPICAL DISEASES. 
The importance of blood-sucking insects and other animals as 
possible disseminators of pathogenic organisms being now uni- 
versally recognised, it is absolutely essential, firstly that medical 
men and others engaged in improving the sanitation of tropical 
countries should have the means of determining correctly the 
names of blood-sucking species with which they may come into 
contact; and secondly that a well-preserved collection of modern 
specimens should be available in London for comparison. 
The British Museum has already dealt with the Mosquitoes and 
Tsetse-flies, and it is now proposed to publish on similar lines a 
further series of monographs on the other blood-sucking forms. 
The material at present at our disposal, however, is insufficient for 
this purpose, and it is therefore hoped that all medical men and 
naturalists residing in British Colonies, or in the tropics in any 
part of the world, will make special endeavours to obtain speci- 
mens and send them addressed to the Director, British Museum 
(Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, 8.W., together with 
notes on the names, habits, and distribution of the insects. 
The accompanying pamphlet (to be seen in the Library of the 
Royal Society of N. 8S. Wales), which has been prepared in order 
to assist those who may be willing to help the Museum in this 
way, is mainly devoted to the blood-sucking Flies (Diptera), and 
i. 
