Story: Sandflies and mosquitoes

Devoured by sandflies

Devoured by sandflies

The artist William Webster Hawkins made this sketch of himself in a room at Abbott's accommodation house, Featherston (in the Wairarapa) around 1867. He notes that he would have been ‘devoured alive’ had he not been quick in dressing, and vows ‘not to stay there the night again if I can help it’.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-370-006-2
Ink drawing by William Webster Hawkins

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Sandflies and mosquitoes - Sandflies: New Zealand’s blackflies', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/14739/devoured-by-sandflies (accessed 7 May 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 24 Sep 2007