Genus Culex. 
101 
Such seem to be the general breeding localities of this 
species. It is evidently everywhere a household form. Writing 
from Singapore, Mr. R. Hanitsch says “ it is the most common 
domestic form here.” From Hong Kong Mr. Ford writes that 
it “ seems chiefly confined to the houses inhabited by the Chinese.” 
At Mombasa it is one of the most troublesome and annoying 
mosquitoes (McKay). Dr. Lutz tells me it is the common night 
mosquito of Brazil, and may be found everywhere, and stings 
only of a night. 
In Australia it is found in towns throughout the year, but 
is more numerous and causes most annoyance during the summer 
months (Skuse). 
Culex fatigans as an intermediate host.- —-This is the species 
spoken of by Major Ronald Ross as the “ grey mosquito,” in 
which he has shown that the blood parasites known as 
Proteosoma, Labbe, undergo part of their development, and 
which infect birds by their bites. This and closely related species 
seem to be particularly predisposed to attack birds in all parts 
of the world, and even reptiles. An observation on this point 
has been sent me by Dr. Lutz. 
Accounts of the parb played by this species in distributing 
the Proteosoma and its development will be found in the “ Indian 
Medical Gazette,” Yol. XXXIII., Dec. 1898, and Yol. XXXIV., 
Jan. 1899, by Major Ronald Ross. Culex fatigans is also one 
of the intermediate hosts and carriers of the small nematode 
blood parasite Filaria sanguinis-hominis, whose life-history was 
discovered by Dr. Manson (vide Journal of the Linnaean Society 
(Zool.), XIV., pp. 301-311: “On the Development of Filaria 
sanguinis-hominis, and on the Mosquito considered as a Xurse ”; 
also a paper entitled “ The Metamorphosis of Filaria sanguinis- 
hominis in the Mosquito,” Trans. Linn. Soc. Zool., 2nd Se., 
Yol. II., pp. 367-388).* 
This insect does not, as far as we yet know, take any part in 
the distribution, &c., of malaria or yellow fever. 
Synonymy. —It is strange that this variable species has not 
been described under a greater number of synonymous names. 
At present I can only trace five insects previously described as 
distinct to this species. 
* This nematode is now known as Filaria Bancroftii. 
VOL. II. 
M 
