92 SHEEP. [1900 



says : — " Rarely have more than six or seven been found. Cases have 

 been reported in other countries where far larger numbers, as many as 

 ten to fifteen, were found. . . . The presence of all sizes of larvae 

 in the cavities is a plain contradiction to the statements that the fly 

 appears only in June and July, for no matter whether it takes ten 

 months for the larvae to grow or not, young and middle-sized and 

 mature larvae found in the winter time could not all have been laid 

 within the two months indicated." — (Dr. Cooper Curtice, op. cit. 

 p. 81.) 



The presence of the Nostril Fly amongst the flock may be known by 

 the sheep holding their noses close to the ground, shaking their heads, 

 and striking the ground violently with their fore feet. Sometimes 

 gathering together with their heads in the centre and their noses 

 down to the ground, or buried in dust or sand if there is any, and 

 occasionally one sheep going off at a gallop as if to escape from an 

 enemy. 



In regard to localities in which the maggot may be found, the idea 

 which at one time was prevalent, that it is to be found in the brain 

 itself, has been entirely disproved by modern writers. In the earlier 

 enquiries sent to myself previous to the year 1887, the specimens 

 accompanying were noted from time to time as having been found " in 

 the brain," or "at the base of the brain," as the case might be. 



This supposed presence in the brain has long been proved to be an 

 impossibility, for proof of which the reader is referred to anatomical 

 details given in the publications of modern veterinary writers ; but 

 with regard to the presence of the grub in the gullet, or elsewhere, 

 from accidental circumstances, the observation of this chancing to 

 happen during its very temporary occasional occurrence, sometimes 

 gives rise to a deal of perplexity. 



On May 12th in the past season the following communication was 

 sent me from near Tamworth, with specimens of (E. ovis larvae of 

 different sizes, the largest five-eighths of an inch long : — 



" I am sending you herewith specimens of grubs apparently in the 

 windpipe of sheep, and shall be much obliged if you will give me your 

 advice as to their nature, and if any cure can be effected. 



" My young sheep have been doing very badly ever since they were 

 weaned last year, and during the winter I lost as many as twenty of 

 them. Yesterday we had them penned for washing, and one acci- 

 dentally got smothered. I dressed it, and upon opening the head 

 found as many as six of the enclosed grubs. I shall be much obliged 

 for any information you can give me about them." 



In this case there is evidence of the maggots being present in what 

 is called in a general way the head (presumably the usual locality of 

 the nostrils ) ; and as transit from the nostrils can take place by means 



