68 



FLIES. 



thick oval shape to which it afterwards changes, but 

 is almost worm-like in shape, and is furnished with a 

 pair of cutting-forks at the mouth end. By careful 

 examinations of sections of hide in the very earliest 

 stage of attack, a fine channel or perforation will be 

 found leading from the outside of the hide, right 



t\^^l 3 

 Fig. 54. — Mouth-forks of young mapgot, much magnified. 



through it down to the under side. Here the young 

 maggot will be found, and by gentle pressure the 

 course of the maggot channel may be clearly traced 

 by the little drop of blood which 

 (in my own observation) I have 

 found can readily be forced 

 along it from the larval working 

 below, till it stands as a minute 

 drop on the outside of the 

 hide. This cliannel I have 

 found to be rough and jagged 

 at the side, thus showing it was 

 gnawed or torn (not cleanly 

 pierced as by an ovipositor), 

 and the direction was very 

 various, so as even to be much 

 curved. 



The maggot gradually in- 

 creases in size, still lying 

 with the tail end uppermost, or nearest the opening 

 in the hide ; and as it grows it presses back, and 

 opens the surrounding tissue, till it lies with the tail 



Fio. 55. — Breathing-tubes 

 of maggot, magnified. 



