* * * * *

[Illustration:  LURE OF THE LAND.

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A MAN WHO BOUGHT A FARM—­

—­BECAUSE AN OPEN-AIR LIFE APPEALED TO HIM—­

—­AND BECAUSE IT MADE ONE ONE’S OWN MASTER—­

—­BECAUSE, MOREOVER, HE WAS FOND OF ANIMALS—­

—­AND ALSO BECAUSE ANY AMOUNT OF EXPERT OPINION WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE IN
CASES OF DOUBT—­

—­BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE ELEMENT OF UNCERTAINTY GAVE SUCH A CHARM TO IT—­

—­AND, FURTHER, BECAUSE CERTAIN SECTIONS WERE BOUND TO BE PROFITABLE—­

—­IN ADDITION BECAUSE UP-TO-DATE APPLIANCES MADE EVERYTHING SO EASY—­

—­BECAUSE, IN PARTICULAR, IT TOOK ONE BACK TO NATURE, AND HELPED ONE TO
AN UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL LAWS—­

—­AND, LASTLY, BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, ONE COULD ALWAYS GET RID OF THE
BEASTLY THING.]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Author.  “YOU REMEMBER MY LAST BOOK?”

Artist.  “THE ONE I ILLUSTRATED?”

Author.  “YES.  WELL, SIR BARNES STORMER WANTS ME TO DRAMATISE IT FOR HIS NEXT WEST-END PRODUCTION.”

Artist.  “I SAY!  THAT’S SPLENDID.  I MUST READ IT.”]

* * * * *

THE MURMANSK MOSQUITO.

My particular interest having been aroused by descriptions recently published in the English Press of the Murmansk mosquito, I made a point, on my arrival in North Russia with the Relief Force, of collecting further data from officers whose experience entitles them to speak with authority upon the habits of the local fauna.

From them I have gathered some curious information which should interest even those whose enthusiasm for the phenomena of natural history is normally but languid, and cannot fail to intrigue not only the entomologist but also the big game hunter, who would find it well worth his while to observe and study the tactics of this sagacious and formidable insect.

Judging from the evidence at my command the true Murmansk mosquito is considerably larger and fiercer than the Archangel variety, owing no doubt to the genial influence of the Gulf Stream.  Both types are however sufficiently ferocious, and, save when rendered comatose by excess of nutrition, will attack human beings without provocation.  The female of the species, if disturbed while accompanied by her young, will invariably charge with such fury that only by an exceptional combination of skill and courage can she be driven off.  The shrill and vibrating cry of the Russian mosquito as it swoops to the attack is, I am assured, qualified to shake the fortitude of even experienced troops.

So surprising are some of the current stories of the size, strength and agility of these dreaded carnivora that one would suspect their veracity were they not vouched for by military and naval officers, and supported by such concrete evidence as that of the local architecture.  The houses are almost universally constructed of substantial logs, undoubtedly for the reason that brickwork would be more easily displaced by the furious assault of the mosquito, which usually hunts in droves, packs or swarms, and has been known to surround and make concerted attacks, upon buildings occupied by particularly well-nourished personnel.