280 JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



into six segments, and, as already stated, are capable of rapid 

 movement. The colour of the fly is a shining electric blue, with 

 a bright "olden head, these colours fade when life is extinct. 

 The insect has a rapid darting flight, as if always prepared to 

 attack, no doubt this is its object in life, and it unfortunately 

 only attacks too well. 



The fly appears to be ovo-viviparous and like the blow fly de- 

 posits its maggots on any spot likely to secure their successful pro- 

 gress through life. Any slight abrasion of the skin which would 

 pass unnoticed is seized upon by the fly as a home for her nu- 

 merous brood. It appears that the larvae must be deposited at 

 various periods, or that other flies assist because in the particular 

 wound I speak of the maggots were in all stages of growth, from 

 those fully developed, down to the minutest size ; and this 

 will show how much suffering is inflicted upon animals by this 

 pest as the individuals come to maturity in succession. What 

 is a mere scratch one day, may on the next be the home of 

 hundreds of these larva?, feeding on the living flesh of the 

 animal and causing a wound it will take weeks to heal and in 

 the mean time the sufferer loses condition and in the case of a 

 milch cow, there is a considerable loss of milk. 



Strange to say though the fly is undoubtedly abundant it is 

 seldom noticed. The men employed on the farm, who almost 

 daily see the maggots in wounds, assured me that they did not 

 know the fly, and had never seen it, and of course had no idea 

 that the maggots were produced by a fly. For the future they 

 swear vengeance against them as the cause of many additional 

 hour's work and trouble. 



This particular fly appears to confine itself to living 

 animals for its reproduction, as I have never observed it on 

 dead ones or on meat. This point is interesting and should be 

 followed up as it indicates that so long as the larva? are destroyed 

 during the dressing of wounds, the mischief may be abated 

 and removed. This fly is always with us, but during the dry 

 season, from December to May its efforts at reproduction are more 

 vigorous with a consequent increased suffering to animals. 

 The most efficacious remedy for the destruction of the maggots 

 is " Capuchin Powder " prepared from the dried seeds of 

 Schcenocaulon officinal*. On the wound being filled with this 

 powder, the maggots which are able, quickly take their depar- 

 ture, those that remain soon succomb to the acrid effect of the 

 drug. A reined}'- equally effectual to the above, called by the 

 coolies "Manar" and locally ''Redeye" is found growing in the 

 pastures, the flowers and leaves of which are roughly pounded 

 thus liberating an acrid juice and the wound when filled with 

 this is soon cleared of its unpleasant occupants. Thus nature 

 though permitting an evil, provides a I'emedy at its side. 



