North America of the title should be understood as excluding Central America. The anatomy, biology and control of mosquitoes, methods of study and the rôle of these insects in the spread of certain diseases, all are presented very briefly and serve as an introduction to the systematic account of the North American Culicidae, or rather Culicinae, since, using the author's own terms, the Chaoborinae are not included.

The author states his purpose thus: “to present as concise an account as possible of the species occurring in North America, to summarize their life histories, habits, breeding habitats, their relation to our own welfare, and to discuss the problem involved in any attempt at their reduction. It is also hoped to present the taxonomic part so that beginners, public health workers, medical men and the average citizen may be able to identify our common species and take a direct interest in the reduction and control of the most annoying forms.”