Miscellaneous. 463 



on in large wooden boxes or cases, having a layer of gravel at the 

 bottom 4 or 5 inches deep, in which the ova and milt, or impreg- 

 nated ova, might be buried, and the cases filled with pure water, 

 which might be kept constantly fresh by allowing a small stream to 

 run into them. When the fry had grown sufficiently strong, they 

 might be conveyed to any distance in tubs filled with water, which 

 might be occasionally renewed, and having tops perforated with 

 holes. On the subject of the distribution of the species of fresh- 

 water fishes, Mr. Hogg refers to the presence of trout and other 

 fishes in mountain streams and alpine lakes, for which it seems dif- 

 ficult to account ; but he suggests, that as the presence of unusual 

 plants in similar circumstances is only to be accounted for by the 

 seeds having been dropped by birds, the problem with regard to 

 fishes might be naturally solved in an analogous manner, their fry 

 having been conveyed to these distant localities by means of water- 

 birds. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On a Venomous Fly of Southern Africa. By MM. W. Oswell 

 and Arnaud. 



This fly, called by the natives Tsetse, is the same that was found 

 to the east of the Limpopo, and which infests the country of Sebi- 

 toani ; it is fortunately confined to certain localities from which it 

 never removes. The inhabitants lead their cattle within a certain 

 distance of the places where it is found, and if they are compelled, in 

 moving about, to cross those portions of the country infested by the 

 insect, they choose for this purpose a moonlight night in the winter, 

 because the insect does not bite during the nights of the cold season. 



From what I have seen, I think that it only requires three or four 

 flies to kill a large ox. We examined about a score of ours which 

 had been bitten and died ; they all presented the same appearances. 

 On removing the skin, the muscles had a slimy aspect and appeared 

 much altered. The stomach and intestines were healthy ; the heart, 

 the lungs, the liver, sometimes all at once, and always one or other of 

 these organs, were affected. The heart especially attracted our at- 

 tention ; it was no longer a hard muscle, but a contracted and ema- 

 ciated organ which might be crushed by the least pressure of its 

 walls ; it resembled flesh which had been soaked in water. The 

 blood was diminished in quantity and altered in quality. The largest 

 ox did not furnish more than twenty pints ; it was thick and albu- 

 minous. The hands, when immersed in this blood, were not spotted 

 by it. The poison appeared to spread in the blood and to change 

 the rest of the organs through its intervention. 



I believe that all domestic animals, except the goat, die of the bite 

 of this insect ; calves and other young animals are secure from it 

 during the whole time that they are sucking ; man and all wild ani- 

 mals are also proof against its venom. — Comptea Rendus, October 16, 

 1852, p. 560. 



