THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 



Dr. Howard, in 1S98, that from the scientific and practical points of view 

 there was a distinct necessity for careful investigation of the insects which 

 breed in human faeces, or are attracted to them ; such an investigation 

 was consequently begun in 1898 and carried on through 1899 an & part of 

 1900. It is the results of this investigation which Dr. Howard now 

 presents. 



In summing up, Dr. Howard states that the number of insects found 

 breeding in or frequenting human excrement was very large. There were 

 manycoprophagous beetles — 44 species in all — and many hymenopterous 

 parasites of beetles and flies, but these were not thought to have any 

 importance from the disease-transfer standpoint. Of flies there were 

 studied in all 77 species, of which 36 were found to breed in human 

 faeces, while 41 were captured upon them. 



The practical bearing of the work is brought out when we consider 

 which of the forms are likely from their habits to actually carry disease 

 germs from excrement, in which they have bred or which they have 

 frequented, to food substances upon which human beings feed. There- 

 fore, extensive collections of flies were made in pantries, kitchens, etc., by 

 means of sticky fly-papers. No less than 23,087 flies were examined, of 

 which 22,808 were the ordinary house fly, Musca domestica. A complete 

 list is given of all species bred on or taken during the investigation, 

 including a full account of the common house fly and its habits. There 

 are excellent figures of many species, together with a great deal of 

 information which will be of interest to scientific readers. 



Dr. Howard points out that, although the most abundant species 

 found breeding in or attracted to human excrement do not occur in 

 kitchens and dining-rooms, yet the common house fly, notwithstanding 

 the fact that it prefers horse manure as a breeding place, does, under 

 some circumstances, as in army camps, where human excrement is left 

 exposed, breed in that substance in large numbers, and, as it also is much 

 attracted to food supplies, it may transfer to these the germs of typhoid 

 or other epidemic diseases from the places where it has bred or to which 

 it has been attracted. On account of these facts, it is recommended that 

 box privies should be abolished from every community, that the deposit- 

 ing of excrement in the open within town limits should be considered a 

 punishable misdemeanour, and every breach of this law should be brought 

 to the notice of the police, so that the nuisance may be removed. 

 Boards of Health in all communities are urged to look after the proper 



