130 Second Report on Economic Zoology. 



when it leaves the host is greyish-brown, striped with grey or white ; 

 in hovi.-i it is brownish and much more contracted and roundish in 

 form. The adult //. hovia differs in regard to colour and size, being 

 slightly larger than H. lineata, and banded with yellow and velvety- 

 black hairs, not brownish-l^lack as in H. lineata. 



Like the former it appears from May to September. 



Some Important Habits. 



All these (Estridfe are found c»n the wing during hot, bright 

 weather. They not only appear (hiring hot weather, but are most 

 active during the hottest part of the day, usually between noon and 

 three o'clock. They do not fly in tlull cold weather, but become 

 torpid, sheltering in crevices of sheds, hurdles, under leaves, etc. So 

 susceptible are they to temperature that they will not fly into shade 

 or over water. Tiie adults h;ive generally no projjer mouth, and at 

 most a rudimentary one, and hence they take little or no nourish- 

 ment. They produce when Hying a low audible hum, which causes 

 the animals to stampede and to seek shelter. 



Prevention and Treatment. 



Much good may be done ))y allowing stock to have plenty of 

 shelter during hot weather, either natural shelter of trees (jr artihcal 

 shelter formed by rough lodges or sheds. Water to which stock may- 

 run and enter also wards oft' these pests. 



The ilies may bo deterred from laying their eggs by dressing the 

 beasts every now and then with some strcjng smelling oil or grease. 

 Cart grease and paraftin may be used for this purpose. Another 

 mixture found of benctit is one quart uf train oil, 4 ozs. of oil of 

 tar, and 4 ozs. of llower of sulphur. I'ure kerosene applied to the 

 legs, liack and Hanks with a rag is also successful. This must ])e 

 done every now and then when the flies are on the wing, i.e., Irom 

 May to September. 



By far the most important method of coping with these pests is 

 the old way of squeezing the " bots " out of the warl)les and killing 

 them. This should be done in February and March when the 

 warbles are most noticeable. The maggots may very easily be 

 extracted by squeezing the warbles with both thumbs and then 

 squashing them underfoot. T'his is a far better plan than covering 

 the opening of the warble with grease or mercurial ointment, so as to 

 suffocate the but within. 



