144 



in 40 gals, water is strong enough to kill all maggots, and a pressure 

 of 125 lb. sufficient to drive it through the wool. 



In two appendices are given a report of the work carried out at the 

 Warrah Sheep-fly Experiment Station during 1920-21, and further 

 •observations on sheep-maggot flies and their parasites, which have 

 already been noticed from another source [R.A.E., B, x, 55]. 



Froggatt (W. W.). Abattoir Refuse useless as Blow-fly Bait. — Agric. 

 Gaz. N.S.W., Sydney, xxxiii, pt. 4, 1st April 1922, p. 264. 

 Of the various mixtures experimented with, including gut slime 

 (claimed in America to be the best bait), dried meat dissolved in water 

 was the only one of any special value in attracting blow-flies. 



Place (F. E.). Blowflies and Sheep. — //. Dept. Agric. S. Australia, 

 Adelaide, xxv, no. 8, 15th March 1922, pp. 700-705. 



It is only within the last 10 or 12 years that blow-fly infestation has 

 been noticed among sheep in South Australia, and the trouble has 

 arisen through vegetable-feeding flies adopting the habit of blowing 

 sheep ; unfortunately, many species of flies that have not yet adopted 

 this habit may at any time do so. In December and January there 

 is but little trouble ; in March it rapidly increases and reaches its 

 height in May, and again in October there is another sharp rise. 



Preventive measures include burning or deep burying of carcasses, 

 the use of such disinfectants as coal-tar, kerosene, sheep dip and quick- 

 lime, the protection of birds, which destroy many flies, and the 

 immediate burning of all maggoty wool clipped from the sheep. The 

 maggots themselves are difficult to kill ; each site of infestation on 

 a sheep should be opened out to the end and' some volatile oil such as 

 petrol be poured on, when the maggots will all come out. A solution 

 of 1 drachm of perchloride of mercury in a pint of methylated spirit 

 should be put on the wound, and this will quickty dry it up. The value 

 of dipping, crutching and other preventive measures is discussed 

 [R.A.E., B, vii. 114 ; ix, 156, etc.]. A solution of 1 to 5 per cent, of 

 copper sulphate is useful in destroying maggots and assisting healing, 

 but has the disadvantage of discolouring the wool. Many flies may 

 be caught in the simplest of traps, such as a kerosene tin with the top 

 •cut off and replaced by cheese cloth, with two or three small holes 

 along one edge. This, laid on its side with a bait of meat inside, is 

 very effective. In isolated paddocks it is often more convenient to 

 poison a carcass with such a mixture as 1 lb. white arsenic, 2 lb. washing 

 soda and 3 lb. sugar boiled for two hours in a kerosene tin full of water. 



Ferguson (E. W.). Rats and Fleas in their Relation to Plague. — 



Australian Mtts. Mag., Sydney, i, no. 4, March 1922, pp. 114-117, 



4 figs. 



A brief account is given of the role played by rats and fleas in the 



transmission of disease. The species of fleas occurring on rats in 



Sydney are Xenopsylla cheopis, Ceratophyllus fasciatiis, and Ctenopsylla 



mnscuii. The necessity for the control of rats and fleas is emphasised. 



The New Cattle-tick Regulations. — N.Z. Jl. Agric, Wellington, xxiv, 



no. 3, 20th March 1922, pp. 188-191. 



These amended regulations for the eradication and prevention of 

 spread of the cattle-tick in the Dominion came into force on 16th 

 February 1922, and supersede those dated 2nd October 1919 [R.A.E., 

 B, viii, 341. 



