is entirely confined to the lower lands in Jamestown and at Ladder
Hill. The night mosquito, which is very abundant all over the
Island, is in appearance like an English gnat. I t comes into houses
in clouds during the hot months, and it is questionable which is the
most distressing, its sting or the noise it makes; but I certainly
prefer the latter.
On a hot summer’s day in Jamestown, one is frequently reminded
of the plagues of Egypt, at least of one of them, visions of
which forcibly appear. I do not suppose that the Island is equal to
most hot climates in this respect, hut the inhabitants of Jamestown
certainly receive their fair share of punishment from the swarms of
flies which take possession of their houses during certain portions of
the year, from January to March.
Out of the following twenty-seven species, which were submitted
to Mr. Walker, it seems probable that ten, which are yet undescribed,
may be new and peculiar to the Island.
Fam. Pulicidee.
Pulex, Linn.
P . i r r i t a n s , Linn.—The habits and customs of this insect are
much the same at. St. Helena as in other parts of the world, and, as
they are so generally known, little need here be said concerning
them. When it takes possession of a vacated house or cottage, as
it often does, a sure mode of destruction to it is to strew the floors
with branches of wild mint. P. canis is also abundant.
Fam. Mycetophilidce.
Leia, Meig.
* L . S a n c ts e h e le n s e , Walk.— A Grnat-like Ely inhabiting the
high land. Mr. Walker remarks that “ the description of this and
of the other species is deferred in order that their affinities with other
species may be more examined.”
Fam. CMronomida.
Chironomus, Meig.
f Two species, the specimens of which Mr. Walker says
*C. sp. PI were too much injured for description. They are Gnat-
*C. sp. ?1 like insects, which fly about in damp situations on the
'high land during the evening time.
Fam. CulicidcB.
Culex, Linn.
C. pipiens, Linn.—The common night Mosquito, which swarms
in the Island during the summer months, more especially in the
neighbourhood of streams or stagnant pools.
C. formosus, Wied.%The day or spotted black and white
Mosquito, which is entirely confined to the low land. I t enters
houses, and flies about silently during the day-time, when it makes
its unsuspected attack, and, often settling on the bald head of some
hardworked official, raises a large blister before its presence is
detected. I t is not so abundant as the other species. Mr. Walker
says:—“ I t inhabits Sierra - Leone. C. inexorabilis, Walk., may be
identical with this species.”
Fam. Phlebotomidm.
Psychoda, Latr.
*P. sp. ?—A very minute Ply.
Fam. Tipulida.
Limnobia, Meig.
*L. sp. P—Which Mr. Walker says is nearly allied to L. atlantica.
I t is a large grey Daddy-long-legs. Both this and the following
species are very abundant, and at night-time come into the houses
on the high land in considerable numbers.
Two other species of Daddy-long-legs; one almost
black, and the other a small grey one; both are
• abundant on the high land, where they come into
houses at night, and hover round lighted lamps and
candles.
Fam. Syrphidai.
Eumerus, Meig.
*L. sp. ?
*L. sp. ?
*E. sp. ?—A short-bodied, thick-built Ply, somewhat like a
common house-fly.
E. ingens, Wied.