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The flight range of Simulium damnosum
454
CORRESPONDENCE
of Macaca found in Southern Thailand, Malaya and Java. Merocysts showing such variation have so far been reported in Macaca only, and we feel that the parasite showing such merocysts should be separated from H. ( Plasmodium) semnopitheci originally described in P. (Semnopithecus) entellus. Such a step will be in conformity with the suggestion put forward by GARNHAM (1966) that the species occurring in Colobidac (langurs) and the Cercopithecidae (Macaques) might be distinct. I n the light of these findings we feel that the identity of Hepatocystis taivc'anensis should also be reinvestigated, as earlier suggested by EYLES and \VARREN (1963). We arc, etc., H. N. RAY, Zoology Department, Presidency College, Calcutta 12. B. DASGUPTA, Zoology Department, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. 12 December, 1907.
REFERENCES EDESON, J. F. B. (1953). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 47, 399. EYLES, D. E., LAING, A. B. G & DOBROVOLNY, C. G. (1962). IndianJ. Malar., 6, 285. - & WARREN, M. (1962). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 55, 10. - & (1963). J. Parasit., 49, 891. GARNHAM, P. C. C. (1961). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 55, 10. - (1966). Malaria Parasites and other Haemosporidia. Oxford: Blackwell. KNOWLES, R. (1919). IndianJ. reed. Res., 7, 195. RAY, H. N. (1951). Proc. Indian. Sci. Congr. Assoc. Part I I I (abst) p. 209. - (1965). Progress in Protozoology. Excerpta Med. Found. Int. Series, 91, 172.
THE FLIGHT RANGE OF SIMULIUM DAMNOSUM SIR,--The reference by WADDY (1968) to Simulium damnosum at Khashm el Girba on the River Atbara in the Sudan might suggest that it had fown there from breeding places 300 miles (483 km.) away in Ethiopia. The species has been reported from Wad Arud, 96 miles from Khashm el Girba, upstream on the same river (LEWIS, 1948, 1953). Pupae were found in rapids at Wad Arud on 25 November 1938 during a survey of phlebotomine sandflies. Simuliid pupae were also seen downstream of Wad Arud, and thosc of S. damnosum might perhaps have been found near Khashm el Girba if a search had been made for them. This species has been recorded from various sites on other rivers less than 300 miles from Khashm el Girba. The recent finding of S. damnosum at that town does not alone afford evidence of a flight from Ethiopia. I am, etc., D. J. LEWIS. External Staff, Medical Research Council, c/o British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W.7 5 March, 1968.
REFERENCES LEWIS, D. J. (1948). Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 99, 475. (1953). Bull. ent. Res., 43, 597. WADD¥, B. 13. (1968). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 62, 17.
CORRESPONDENCE
of Macaca found in Southern Thailand, Malaya and Java. Merocysts showing such variation have so far been reported in Macaca only, and we feel that the parasite showing such merocysts should be separated from H. ( Plasmodium) semnopitheci originally described in P. (Semnopithecus) entellus. Such a step will be in conformity with the suggestion put forward by GARNHAM (1966) that the species occurring in Colobidac (langurs) and the Cercopithecidae (Macaques) might be distinct. I n the light of these findings we feel that the identity of Hepatocystis taivc'anensis should also be reinvestigated, as earlier suggested by EYLES and \VARREN (1963). We arc, etc., H. N. RAY, Zoology Department, Presidency College, Calcutta 12. B. DASGUPTA, Zoology Department, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. 12 December, 1907.
REFERENCES EDESON, J. F. B. (1953). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 47, 399. EYLES, D. E., LAING, A. B. G & DOBROVOLNY, C. G. (1962). IndianJ. Malar., 6, 285. - & WARREN, M. (1962). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 55, 10. - & (1963). J. Parasit., 49, 891. GARNHAM, P. C. C. (1961). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 55, 10. - (1966). Malaria Parasites and other Haemosporidia. Oxford: Blackwell. KNOWLES, R. (1919). IndianJ. reed. Res., 7, 195. RAY, H. N. (1951). Proc. Indian. Sci. Congr. Assoc. Part I I I (abst) p. 209. - (1965). Progress in Protozoology. Excerpta Med. Found. Int. Series, 91, 172.
THE FLIGHT RANGE OF SIMULIUM DAMNOSUM SIR,--The reference by WADDY (1968) to Simulium damnosum at Khashm el Girba on the River Atbara in the Sudan might suggest that it had fown there from breeding places 300 miles (483 km.) away in Ethiopia. The species has been reported from Wad Arud, 96 miles from Khashm el Girba, upstream on the same river (LEWIS, 1948, 1953). Pupae were found in rapids at Wad Arud on 25 November 1938 during a survey of phlebotomine sandflies. Simuliid pupae were also seen downstream of Wad Arud, and thosc of S. damnosum might perhaps have been found near Khashm el Girba if a search had been made for them. This species has been recorded from various sites on other rivers less than 300 miles from Khashm el Girba. The recent finding of S. damnosum at that town does not alone afford evidence of a flight from Ethiopia. I am, etc., D. J. LEWIS. External Staff, Medical Research Council, c/o British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W.7 5 March, 1968.
REFERENCES LEWIS, D. J. (1948). Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 99, 475. (1953). Bull. ent. Res., 43, 597. WADD¥, B. 13. (1968). Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 62, 17.