New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-12
naturally feel in the favorable action OF 'ne
Congress-


TIE WINTER AND THE MOSQUITOES.
gentleman living on the other side OF the
North River writes on the suoJeco "in0'
naturally comes home TO him closest-'hao VI
Jersey MOSQUITOES. lie considers them "l'i' '
spect to the late alleged winter. Our correspond
cnts observations, extending over series vi
years, have shown that the Jersey mosquito nN'
the bear passes from two to three months VI oio
winter in torpid state. This period OF hloefia
ton usually begins about the middle OF Decem-
Der and extends to the middle of March, though 1t
may he shortened half month at each end ana
include the months of January and February only
lie never knew the period to be less than TWO
months, and bis observations reach back &C far
as 1859 In 1873 the mosquito came out on
Candlemas Day, February 2. and did not return.
but our observing correspondent had noted the
fact that he had retired very early that winter,
namely on November 30. thus giving him two
months and three days Of secluson, despite the
fact of his early appearance. Our correspondent
tabulates the results of his thirty-onc years of
close and accurate observation, and finds that
for this period of time the average length of
the Jersey mosquitoes lcthargc sleep is. roughly
speaking, two months and twenty-five days. This
winter the Jersey mosquitoes have not as yet
passed into torpid state at all.
Our correspondent writes that about the mid
die of December he thought he saw the usual
signs of their departure They became dull and
inactive. and neglected their food. Their natural
food the summer boardcr. was of course gone.
but as this happens every year, they could ex-
pcct nothing else. But though they lost their
accustomed agility they did not disappear. They
continued to hum around our correspondents
couch at night. and in the morning close OBJ
seryaton revealed them ro0sting on the chan
dcers, oil paintings, bric-a-brac and SO forth. At
the Office our valued correspondent noticed them
alight his inkstand calmly braid their legs.
and them hum away TO the window and bask
in the December January sunshine, as if it
had been June They lacked the aggrcssivencss
Of july he writes, but nevertheless | was bit
ten twelve times by Jersey mosquitoes on New
Years Day.
Our correspondent continues at some length,
giying the general condition in which I've observed
the mosquitoes for each week Of the
winter, but it all amounts to this.
that the MOSQUITOES remained numerous and
fairly active throughout the entire season. Dur
ing the recent cold spell there were two or three
days when the unscientGc observer would have
pronounced them absent but little search among
the statuary in the pianofortc readily revealed
them. At the date Of our correspondents letter
| March 10 he finds them taking on their spring
| activity their hum being an octave higher and
their bite one-siNtccnth of an inch deeper
our correspondent INDUCES in some speculation
rs 10 the probable future effects of the abnormal
winter on the mosquitoes. If they are not nppcd
by a late frost, il would seem that this cXtraor-
binary season must increase their number and
activity for the coming summer. unless. indeed,
their unusual winter campaign should prove too
much for their constitutions and rather weaken
than strengthen them for the summers work.
And in either case their unusual experience this
winter NAV dcmOralilc them for the next, and III
stead Of prudcnty retiring in December they may
llngcr, expecting another open winter, only 10 be
cut on by the first blizzard. Indeed. our CORE
spondcnt INDUCES in large amount Of speculation.
as scientific men won't 10 do. little OF winch
seems 10 I've Of practical value. But the fact whlci.
he appcars - have clearly established. that the
mosquito kept the field during the entire winter,
is important We may attach undue significance
10 IT, but nevertheless we believe that 1t Is 10 the
best interests Of our jersey friends 10 look early
10 the condition Of their wlndow-screns. ume
of peace has been highly commended as con-
venient season in which to prepare for war.