A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



741 



The common House-fly, owing to its abundance and familiarity, 

 is one of the most dangerous species. Although it breeds chiefly in 

 horse manure, it will also breed freely in human excrement, where 

 exposed.* The Flesh-flies and Blow-flies feed as larvae on carrion or 

 flesh of any kind, bones, etc., but the adult flies alight on, and doubt- 

 less feed upon, human excreta, as well as upon cooked foods, fruit, 

 etc. The Stable-fly breeds both in horse manure and human excreta. 



89 





Figure 85. — Flesh-fly (Sarcophaga carnaria) ; enlarged. Figure 86, a, b. — House- 

 fly; young larvas much enlarged ; after Packai-d. Figure 87. — Blue-bottle 

 (Lucilia ccesar) ; xl%. Figure 88. — Blow-fly (Calliphora vomitoria) ; xl^; 

 phot. A. H. V. Figure 89. — Stable-fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) ; a, fly ; x 3 ; 

 b, its head, o, eye, p, proboscis ; c, larva, nat. size ; e', its head-; /, pupa; 

 enlarged ; after Howard. 



The adult fly, which closely resembles the House-fly, bites 

 severely both men and horses, and is often seen in our houses and 

 on food. Many other common flies have similar habits. 



Flies of all kinds should, therefore, be carefully excluded from 

 the rooms of patients suffering from any contagious disease, and all 

 infected material should be so disposed of that flies cannot have 

 access to it. The disease germs or bacteria adhering to their feet 



*Aecording to Howard 1200 flies may develop in one poiind of manure in 10 

 days. 



