The Life of the Fly 



with the flesh of Frogs and Tree-frogs, the 

 meat simply dissoh'^es into a porridge. Hashes 

 of Slug, Scolopendra or Praying Mantis fur- 

 nish the same result. 



In all these preparations, the dissolving- 

 agent of the worms is as much in evidence as 

 when butcher's meat is employed. Moreover, 

 the grubs seem satisfied with the queer dish 

 which my curiosity prescribes for them ; they 

 thrive amidst the victuals and undergo their 

 transformation into pupae. 



The conclusion, therefore, is much more 

 general than Redi imagined. Any meat, no 

 matter whether of a higher or lower order, 

 suits the Bluebottle for the settlement of her 

 family. The carcasses of furred and feathered 

 animals are the favourite victuals, probably 

 because of their richness, which allows of 

 plentiful layings; but, should the occasion de- 

 mand it, the others are also accepted, with- 

 out inconvenience. Any carrion that has lived 

 the life of an animal comes within the domain 

 of these scavengers. 



What is their number to one mother? I 

 have already spoken of a deposit of three hun- 

 dred, counted egg by egg. A quite fortuitous 

 circumstance enabled me to go much farther. 

 In the first week of January 1905, we experi- 

 350 



