OF WASHINGTON. 179 



solely in regions which have a sandy soil. It is particularly 

 abundant in Florida, and is annoying to man and animals from 

 the fact that it is attracted to eyes and to the natural open 

 ings of the body, as well as to sores. During his two recent trips 

 through the South, Mr. Schwarz endeavored to ascertain the life- 

 history of the species, but without success. Judging from the 

 habits of all other Oscinidae, it must be a leaf or sterri miner. 

 The possibility of this insect carrying disease germs was 

 brought out by the speaker. 



These notes were discussed by Messrs. Stiles, Riley, Howard, 

 Hubbard, and Marlatt. Dr. Stiles said that the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry had received complaints from the South of the annoyance 

 caused to animals by this fly, but that he had made no investi 

 gation of the species. He was impressed by the possible im 

 portance of this insect as a conveyer of contagion. Professor 

 Riley spoke of the curious fact that this extremely common insect, 

 which he himself had often seen in his journeys through the 

 South, was not mentioned in entomological literature. It was, 

 however, another exemplification of a very common state of affairs. 

 Referring to the habit which the insect has of gathering in the 

 corners of the eye of human beings, he suggested that eye- 

 diseases in particular would be conveyed by the insect. He 

 spoke of the extraordinary prevalence of ophthalmia among the 

 Egyptians and other eastern people, and suggested that this 

 disease was spread by the agency of dipterous insects. Mr. 

 Howard referred to a recent article by an eminent English army 

 surgeon in an English review, in which this very subject is treated, 

 and the medical man expresses himself as of the opinion that flies 

 are largely responsible for the spread of this particular eye disease 

 in Egypt. Mr. Hubbard said that in Florida a serious disease 

 of the eyelid is often prevalent. It is known as " sore-eye'' and it 

 becomes absolutely epidemic from time to time. He feels certain 

 that this Hippelates carries the disease, since it is well known that 

 even the use of the same handkerchief will convey the disease 

 from a sore-eyed person to a healthy one. He has known it to start 

 with a single individual and run through an entire school or 

 community, and he thinks Hippelates alone accounts for the rapid 

 spread. Moreover, the irritation caused by the fly greatly aggra- 



