THE CLARION SHRILL. 119 



than would be any winged leech. There are 

 three species, all three by far too plentiful for 

 the comfort of either man or beast, and widely 

 distributed in North-west America. These 

 insects have an apparent ubiquity, and are 

 literally everywhere. Ascend to the regions of 

 eternal snow, there are hungry Breeze-flies 

 awaiting one's arrival; by the rushing torrent, 

 on the shores of the placid lake, under the deep 

 damp shadows of the pine-trees, or on the open 

 flower-decked prairie, there are sure to be 

 Breeze-flies. One barely hears the sound of its 

 ' clarion shrill ' and hum of the rapidly-vibrating 

 wings, ere one feels a sharp prick, as though a 

 red-hot needle had been thrust into the flesh ; 

 stab follows stab in quick succession, and unless 

 active measures of defence be resorted to, the 

 skin speedily assumes the form of a sieve. 



The horses and mules give immediate notice 

 of the enemy by viciously throwing up their heads 

 and heels, snorting, and, very possibly, indeed I 

 may say generally, summarily discharging their 

 loads, be they human or baggage, over their 

 heads. Whether success attends this disagreeable 

 habit or not, in any case a hasty retreat is made 

 for the nearest water, where both man and beast 

 well know the Breeze-fly seldom or never follows. 



