Vol. Xxi] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 41 5 



that they have become shorter and are somewhat barrel- 

 shaped, and but little more than one-half their former size, 

 or about one-quarter of an inch long; they are now turning a 

 light brown and the outer covering is growing hard. In two 

 days they are of a dark brown chestnut color, perfectly quiet, 

 and the outer skin is perfectly hard but brittle; they are now 

 pupae. On trying to open these cases you will notice that the 

 first three segments form a sort of cap and will separate from 

 the rest if pulled quite hard, and, on cutting it open, the con- 

 tents appear to be only a watery fluid with a few green and 

 yellow tubes floating in it. the whole mass being attached 

 but slightly to the case at the end. On looking closer, one 

 hard, yellowish, opaque body may be seen which is the com- 

 pound eye of the future fly. This appears first, then the rest 

 of the head, the thorax, the abdomen, the legs, and lastly the 

 wings of the fly can be distinguished. As each part develops 

 the traces of larval life disappear, the substance of the old 

 maggot being rapidly absorbed. 



It is very wonderful when we consider that in but two 

 or three days a squirming maggot, capable of moving, breath- 

 ing, and eating with such strength and rapidity, can be so 

 changed that no one part can be traced, not even his strong 

 jaws, and that in ten days all this can be entirely absorbed 

 and worked over into a new being. How carefully all the 

 parts are folded over one another and how little remains of 

 our maggot ! No wonder the larva must pass through this 

 stage while buried an inch under the ground if possible, an 

 absolutely helpless thing must be protected from its enemies. 



But these pupae do not always mature; if placed on the 

 surface of the earth or brought into the house and kept dry, 

 death will ensue; also after the drought of three weeks men- 

 tioned above, but three perfect flies appeared, although the 

 earth in the box was full of pupa cases, showing again the 

 disastrous effect of drought. If raised in tin boxes only a 

 small proportion come to maturity, possibly because air does 

 not circulate through the earth as readily as when in wooden 



