456 The Mainin' I leap (iiid tlic ll()iii«-I'l]i 



latter experiment furnishes the only real evidence that M. domestica 

 was breeding at all in this heap, and moving the trap on to other areas 

 did not secure any furtlier examples. 



I see no reason to regard these experiments as furnishing results 

 other than typical of the conditions under which they were conducted, 

 and in the absence of further evidence it would seem that the following 

 conclusions may be drawn. 



That whilst, as already fully recognised, the iu)use-fly is liable to 

 breed in huge nund)ers in stable refuse which is stored in close proximity 

 to dwellings, the governing factor is found in the dwelUngs rather than 

 in tlu^ manure heap, the latter merely serving as a secondary convenience, 

 providing a breeding place for the flies which have been attracted to the 

 houses in search of food. 



That the open farm manure heap/w*' aivaij from houses is but little 

 frequented by house-flies, and then only later in the season when the 

 insect has become numerous and widely dispersed. 



That the spent manure heap, in which fermentation has practically 

 ceased, produces under rural conditions at least practically no flies 

 at all. 



That although the farm heap may produce Init few house-flies, it 

 is a prohfic source of StoiiKKii/.s calcitnnis, and those agriculturists who 

 value the comfort and health of their aninuils should treat all manure 

 with a view to the destruction of the larvae of this pest. 



It should be clearly understood that the above conclusions apply 

 to manure heaps far distant from houses. Where the farm dwelling 

 and the farm buildings adjoin, as they do in so many cases, the danger 

 of the manure heap becomes much greater, particularly where dairies 

 or other food-preparing departments are in proximity to fariii refuse. 



For the town manure heap, tutder which category I include that 

 from which the material used in Experiment II was obtained, no 

 regulations can be too drastic, and it is but httle creditable to our local 

 authorities, and even less so to the proprietors, that such conditions 

 should be permitted to exist. 



Mention has been made of Slomoxys eolritrans as a pest to cattle. 

 The "biting house-fly,' as it has been called, is a blood-sucking insect 

 possessing great capabilities as a carrier of disease, and it is by no means 

 inclined to distinguish for alimentary purposes between the human aiul 

 the e<|uiiu' species. There is however another fly, which on account of 

 its numbers and persistency, is probably a far greater nuisance. I refer 

 to Musca autxiKudlis De 0. Swarming in the open, it enteis houses 



