An attempt is made to describe the comparative epidemiology of malaria in representative communities of south-western and north-western Nigeria. The climates of the two areas are contrasted and their influence on the seasonal densities and infectivities of the local vectors, Anopheles gambiae and A. funestus, is shown. Malaria occurs in holoendemic proportions in both areas and its effect on local mortality and morbidity is examined, with special reference to children in the pre-school age-groups.