Mosquitoes by Lafcadio Hearn — Read

With a view to self-protection I have been reading Dr. Howard's book, "Mosquitoes. " I am persecuted by mosquitoes. There are several species in my neighborhood; but only one of them is a serious torment,-a tiny needly thing, all silver-speckled and silver-streaked. The puncture of it is sharp as an electric burn; and the mere hum of it has a lancinating quality of tone which foretells the quality of the pain about to come,-much in the same way that a particular smell suggests a particular taste. I find that this mosquito much resembles the creature which Dr. Howard calls _Stegomyia fasciata_, or _Culex fasciatus: _ and that its habits are the same as those of the _Stegomyia_. For example, it is diurnal rather than nocturnal and becomes most troublesome in the afternoon. And I have discovered that it comes from the Buddhist cemetery,-a very old cemetery,-in the rear of my garden.

Dr. Howard's book declares that, in order to rid a neighborhood of mosquitoes, it is only necessary to pour a little petroleum, or kerosene oil, into the stagnant water where they breed. Once a week the oil should be used, "at the rate of once ounce for every fifteen square feet of water-surface, and a proportionate quantity for any less surface. ". But please to consider the conditions in _my_ neighborhood!