242 POWER OF RECOVERING FROM WOUNDS. 



known amongst natives, and I have often observed maggots produced in 

 this manner. The parent fly deposits as many young maggots as would 

 cover a shirt-button. When first produced the young are about a six- 

 teenth of an inch in length, but they grow with wonderful rapidity. 



When an animal's wound is fly-blown it constantly rubs the part against 

 trees, and an elephant blows mud or dust upon it. Carnivorous animals 

 excepted, very few, I believe, die of putrefaction of their wounds, though 

 I have known bison and elephants have unhealed wounds for upwards 

 of a year. It is marvellous how they manage to keep them clean. 1 

 have seen a mass of maggots as large as an egg which had fallen from 

 an elephant's wound where he had rubbed against a tree. 



