30 
most unanimously agreed that these adult Anthomyia were the depredators, it really 
seemed that the term Buffalo-gnat here might, like the Tent-worm and the Weevil in 
other localities, include a variety of insects. 
Wishing to make the best possible use of time, I utilized the bad weather A180 by 
visiting our correspondent, Mr. Robert E. Craig, at Luna Landing, Chicot County, 
Arkansas, spending a few days there, and at Greenville, Miss., returning to Somer- 
set March 8. 
The 9th and 10th being pleasant, the Anthomyia again appeared, but, although 
very demonstrative, none were observed to alight upon the teamsat work. This faet 
led to the impression that my information had been incorrect, and that I was on the 
wrong track. This proved true, for during my entire stay I never saw one of these 
Anthomyia alight on stock. 
On the 11th word came that mules were being harassed by gnats on a plantation 
six miles to the northwest, and, on the following day, I rode out to that locality and 
found the true gnat in considerable numbers. 
Four days were now spent in a fruitless search for the adolescent stages in the 
bayous and ditches adjacent to the locality where the adults had now appeared, and 
as many more were lost on account of bad weather. | 
During this time, and up to noon of the 20th, no adult gnats had appeared on the 
Somerset plantation. A strong northwest wind had, however, set in during the morn- 
ing, and by evening the gnats were quite abundant. The next day (Sunday) the 
wind blew still stronger from the same quarter, and Monday morning, the 22d, found 
them abundant enough to cause some considerable uneasiness among the teams at 
work. 
Fully satisfied now that these gnats did not breed in the vicinity of Somerset, I 
started out on horseback, and after riding for about eight miles toward the northwest 
reached a small stream known as Mill Bayou. Following this down stream, through 
the woods, the current soon became quite rapid, the banks being more or less grown 
up with brush and bushes, to below the water’s edge. The gnats, too, whose num- 
bers had been continually increasing, now became numerous enough to worry my 
horse considerably. 
Finding that little could be accomplished in the way.of inspecting the stream with- 
out a boat, and it being too late in the day to procure one, I returned to Somerset. 
On the next day, the 23d, procuring a dugout, a thorough examination was made, 
not only of Mill Bayou, but of two others, tributaries to it, one of which had no per. 
ceptible current, the result being that where there was no current no larve of gnats 
could be found. Asthecurrent became sluggish a few were observed, the number in- 
creasing in proportion to its rapidity, reaching the maximum in numbers in the 
swiftest current of Mill Bayou; always provided, however, there was sufficient mate- 
rial to which to attach themselves. Thus, the larve would occur abundantly on one 
side of the stream, where a bend caused it to run very swiftly, while on the opposite 
side, in comparatively still water, few could be found. 
Upon inquiry and personal investigation, this bayon was found to be receiving 
water from the Mississippi River through Lake Palmyra and Bayou Vidal, and also 
that its water rose and fell with that of the river itself, until the height of the latter 
fell below 25 feet on the gauge at Vicksburg. 
It now seemed quite important to learn to what extent, if any, the other inland 
bayous were influenced in this manner, and,as the country is of difficult access, I 
thought best to visit our correspondent, Judge A. A. Gunby,. of Monroe, Louisiana, 
whose circuit I knew comprised the entire infested territory of the northwestern por- 
tion of the State, and whom, I learned, was then at home on a short vacation. 
Leaving Somerset on the 25th, and returning again on the 31st, I was, by this 
journey, enabled not only to obtain much valuable information from Judge Gunby, 
but also to examine the Washita River, and also, but very superficially, on account 
of recent heavy rains, the country between it and the Mississippi River. 
