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OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING HAUNTS OF 
GLOSSINA MORSITANS. 
By Rurrert W. Jack, F.E.S., 
Government Entomologist for Southern Rhodesia. 
(PLATES XVII.—XXL.) 
The first puparium of Glossina morsitans found in nature, as mentioned in 
Mr. E. E. Austen’s recently published ‘“ Handbook of the Tsetse-Flies,” was 
taken in November, 1910, from the collection of mould and humus between the 
roots of a large tree (Ficus sp.) near the Gorai river below the Escarpment in 
the Lomagundi District, Southern Rhodesia. The tree is situated about 60 to 
70 yards from the actual bank of the river, as it runs at present. It is in reality 
growing on what was the old bank of the river, which is changing its bed 
gradually owing to the soft nature of the ground through which it flows. At 
the time of the visit “ fly” was abundant in the shade of the trees bordering the 
river, the sandy bed of which then contained no water on the surface, the nearest 
open water being twelve to fifteen miles away in the Hunyaniriver. It was thought 
at the time that this was the only pupa-case secured, and a search all along the river 
bank produced no others. A number of empty pupa-cases of other Diptera and 
Lepidoptera were, however, placed in a corked phial and labelled, and on going 
over these later in the laboratory, the anal end of a second tsetse pupa-case was 
found amongst them, showing the characteristic protuberances. This spot was 
again visited in April, 1911, and under the same tree five more empty puparia 
were found, but, as before, the most diligent search elsewhere failed to produce 
any more. A photograph of the tree taken in November is reproduced 
(Pl. XVII, fig. 2). 
During August, 1911, the fly-area in the Sebungwe District was visited, and 
here the search for pupae met with greater success. Altogether 87 empty 
puparia were found and four living pupae, or at least puparia from which the 
fly had not emerged. These puparia were found in two different localities, namely, 
at a river, or, as some say, the headquarters of several rivers, called Manzi- 
tuba, lying some 35 miles east of Kariyangwe (Sebungwe), the seat of the 
Native Commissioner for the district; and again, near a kraal belonging to 
the induna Sinombi, situated on the Sinyama River, about 23 miles east of 
Kariyangwe. 
At the point where the investigations took place at Manzituba there is a sandy 
escarpment, a hundred feet or so in height, which suddenly descends to a wet 
boggy vlei,* lying east and west, through which the course of the river runs. In 
August the river consists of a series of pools. This viei is bordered by shady 
trees, and in this respect differs from the surrounding bush, in which the trees are 
almost entirely leafless at this time of the year. From the drier portions of the 
vlei old termite-mounds rise in places and are surmounted by tall shady trees. 
* [A term used in South Africa for open, low-lying land, which is always marshy during the 
rains, but which may or may not be dry during the dry season.—HD. | 
