THE BLUEBOTTLE 115 



a qualm, as all our experiments show. This principle 

 has a practical application which is not without its value 

 in matters of domestic economy. It is as well that the 

 wonders of entomology should sometimes give us a hint 

 of commonplace utility. 



The usual meat-safe is a sort of large cage with a top 

 and bottom of wood and four wire-gauze sides. Hooks 

 fixed into the top are used whereby to hang pieces which 

 we wish to protect from the Flies. Often, so as to em- 

 ploy the space to the best advantage, these pieces are 

 simply laid on the floor of the cage. With these ar- 

 rangements, are we sure of warding off the Fly and her 

 vermin ? 



Not at all. We may protect ourselves against the 

 Bluebottle, who is not much inclined to lay her eggs at 

 a distance from the meat ; but there is still the Flesh-fly, 

 who is more venturesome and goes more briskly to work 

 and who will slip the grubs through a hole in the meshes 

 and drop them inside the safe. Agile as they are and 

 well able to crawl, the worms will easily reach anything 

 on the floor ; the only things secure from their attacks will 

 be the pieces hanging from the ceiling. It is not in the 

 nature of maggots to explore the heights, especially if this 

 implies climbing down a string in addition. 



People also use wire-gauze dish-covers. The trellised 

 dome protects the contents even less than does the meat- 

 safe. The Flesh-fly takes no heed of it. She can drop 

 her worms through the meshes on the covered joint. 



Then what are we to do? Nothing could be simpler. 

 We need only wrap the birds which we wish to preserve 



