The Washington times., 1901-07-24
MpsuuitOes,

1t is now claimed that the mosquitoes
of northern New Jersey, which has been
supposed to be the mosquito menagerie
of the United States, are not SO large
as they have been represented to be,
and that the reputation of the State
is, therefore, cleared. The State ento-
| mologist declares that the kind of mos
quito that breeds in the meadows of
Hackensack is the very smallest.
This defence is too weak. The size
of the mosquito is of little consequence.
1t is his activity which matters. The
insects of Jersey have been represented
as being large enough to catch an un-
wary victim and carry him off if he
happened to venture unattended into
the swamps where they flock. But If
they were as large as that people could
go out and hunt them with shotguns
or knock them over with clubs, and
the task of determination would be
comparatively easy. The great trouble
with the actual mosquito is that he is
so small that nobody can tell which of
the seven places he seems to be in is
really inhabited by him. He cannot
be seen or felt until he begins to get in
his work. and though it is quite possi-
bic, indeed unavoidable, to hear his
buzz, its tone is peculiarly misleading.
and causes the victim to suppose that
his adversary is in the air about three
feet to the left when the insect is in
reality settling on the back of the neck.
There is hardly any mention in the old
l,;e-
with mosquitoes. Perhaps they were
so busy fighting Indians, and bears, and
wolves that they did not have time to
record small things like that. The av-
erage civilized man, lying awake in
the dawn of a hot summer morning
fighting these pests, is apt to wish that
he could have Indians and bears for
change, but probably if his wish were
granted, he would beg to have the mos
quitoes back. Human nature is hard to
satisfy.
There was one advantage in the sit
uation of the pioneer, of course: when
he had killed a hostile Indian or trapped
a bear, he had the satisfaction of feel
ing that he had made one step on the
savage foes nor brute enemies was in
exhaustible. But when one mosquito
has been killed there is funeral, and
the mourners combine revenge and fun
eral feast in manner most disconcert-
ing. There seems to be literally no end
to them. If these pests are ever to be
exterminated it will have to be done
by syndicate. Individual effort will
not do it.
In a recent work on mosquitoes, it
is suggested that with a little pains
and thought on the part of the COM
munity, the breeding of mosquitoes
might easily be stopped. 1t is neces-
sary, in the first place, to see that
stagnant water and pools of mud are
dried up or impregnated with kerosene,
and this is comparatively easy thing
to do in the ordinary town or city. OF
course, in towns near Woodlands and
swamps, 1t will be difficult to stop the
mosquito breeding altogether. But, at
any rate. kerosene is cheap. and if all
the stagnant water and hah-dried mud
within town limits can be rendered
harmless, the result is likely to be a
considerable diminution of the nui-
Sance- But there are people who will
leave an uncovered cistern on their
swamp a few rods off. and then consid-
er the mosquitoes a dispensation of
Providence