vii OESTRIDAE PUPIPARA 517 



observations relate to Hypoderma lineata. Our common British 

 species is usually supposed to be If. bovis ; but from recent ob- 

 servations it seems probable that most of the " Ox-warbles " of this 

 country are really due to the larvae of If. lineata. 



The history of Oestrus ovis, which attacks the sheep, is also 

 incompletely known, but appears to be much simpler. This fly 

 is viviparous, and deposits its young larvae at the entrance of the 

 nasal passages of the sheep, thereby causing extreme annoyance 

 to the animal. The larvae penetrate to the frontal sinuses to 

 complete their growth. The duration of their lives is unknown, 

 for it is commonly the case that larvae of various sizes are found 

 together. Cephenomyia rufibarHs has recently been found in 

 Scotland. It attacks the Red deer, and its life-history is similar 

 to that of Oestrus ovis, though the larvae apparently prefer to 

 attain their full growth in the pharynx of the deer. 



In reference to the Oestridae that attack man, we may merely 

 mention that the larva of the Hypoderma of the ox is occasionally 

 found in Europe infesting human beings, but only as an extremely 

 rare and exceptional event ; and that only those engaged in 

 attending on cattle are attacked ; from which it is inferred that 

 the flies are deceived by an odour emanating from the garments. 

 In America numerous cases are known of Oestrid larvae being 

 taken from the body of man, but information about them is very 

 scanty. It appears, however, that there are at least four species, 

 one of which, Dermatobia noxialis, is known as a fly as well as a 

 larva. Whether any of these are peculiar to man is uncertain. 1 

 There are several larvae of Muscidae that have similar habits to the 

 Oestridae ; hence the statements that exist as to larvae being found 

 in birds and reptiles cannot be considered to apply to members of 

 the latter family until the larvae have been studied by an expert. 



The family Ctenostylidae has been established by Bigot for a 

 South American Insect, of which only a single individual exists 

 in collections. It is doubtful whether it can be referred to 

 Oestridae. 2 



Series V. Pupipara 



The four families included in this Series are, with the 

 exception of the Hippoboscidae, very little known. Most of 



1 See Blanchard, Ann. Soc,. ent. France (7) ii. 1892, pp. 109, 154. 



2 See Bigot, Ann. Soc. ent. France (6) ii. 1882, p. 21, Brauer, Monograph, 1863, 

 p. 51, and Wien. ent. Zeit. vi. 1887, p. 75. 



