48 THE entomologist's record. 



chestnut colour, and had been reared on heather. This was con- 

 sidered to be a most unusual food. 



The Diptera of Guernsey/-' 



Mr. W. A. Luti' has done much for the entomology of the Channel 

 Islands. Almost all Orders seem to be passing under his notice, for 

 we have already had the Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. He commends 

 the study of the Diptera to entomologists in the following notes : — 

 " There have been few Orders of insects so neglected as the Diptera ; 

 for although some of the species are very elegant and beautiful in the 

 perfect state, still the great majority are small in size and sombre in 

 colour, and do not attract beginners in the science, like such insects 

 as butterflies and moths. The life histories of these insects, however, 

 are so interesting and varied that a study of even a few species will 

 repay the observer." 



In his general remarks of the families he says : — " The (Estridii?, 

 or Bot-flies, are parasitic on horses, sheep, and oxen. They are 

 termed ' hots ' in horses, ' maggot ' in sheep, and ' warbles ' in 

 cows and oxen. The eggs of the Bot-fly are laid on the hair in those 

 parts likely to be licked by the horse. The young larva readily 

 adheres to the moist surface of the tongue, and is from thence con- 

 veyed into the stomach, where they feed. Mr. Bracey Clarke, one of 

 the best observers of these insects, says they are not injurious ; others, 

 however, are of a contrary opinion. 



" The ' maggot ' in sheep has a still more wonderful history. 

 Its eggs are laid in the nostrils of sheep ; these, on becoming larvje, 

 penetrate into the frontal and maxillary sinuses and even the horns, 

 and feed on the secretions. When full-grown the larviB fall through 

 the nostrils of the sheep to the ground, and there change into 

 the pupa state. In about two months the perfect fly makes its 

 appearance. 



" The ' warble-fly ' of the cow and oxen is far more formidable 

 than either of those just described. Its eggs are laid on the sides and 

 backs of these animals, and the larvie resulting from them pierce 

 through the hide, producing tumours as large as pigeons' eggs. 

 The food of the larva appears to be the pus or matter surrounding 

 it in the tumour in which it exists. Having attained its full size, 

 it presses itself against the upper part of the tumour, and, by some 

 unknown process, makes a hole in the hide about the size of a pea. 

 Through this the larva wriggles itself and falls to the ground, where it 

 soon becomes a pupa. After lying on the ground some weeks the 

 perfect fly emerges. It is a large and handsomely-coloured species, 

 but very difticult to obtain on account of the rapidity of its flight 

 and the difficulty of breeding it, the larva dying on being removed 

 from the animal on which it has fed." 



One species which Mr. Luff" has captured, rh., Ih/cilodrsid rarhti, 

 Schiner, is not recorded as British. Of the rarer species which Mr. 

 Luft' has met with — h'jntriptiin rhuiulatnx, Fab., Si/rjjlm.s (/rossidariai', 

 Mg., KiunciHs (iiindatits, Mg., and Lurina faKciata are especially 

 worthy of notice. The revised nomenclature, suggested by Mr. 

 Verrall, is adopted throughout. 



* The Diptera of Guernseij. By W. A. Lull'. Published by The Guernsey 

 Society of Natural Science, lb95. 



