104 HORSE AND OATTLE FLIES. 
degree their habits. On the 8th of May Mr. Gibb wrote: ‘I find the 
New Forest Flies are now fairly plentiful, the warm sunshine having 
brought them out from the sheltered haunts, and under the bark of old 
trees, where they hybernate.”’ 
In regard to their powers of annoyance, and especially by clinging 
to hair, Mr. Gibb remarked :—‘‘ All owners of horses who have been 
for any length of time in the neighbourhood of the New Forest are 
familiar with the pest. The body is tough, like india-rubber; with its 
toothed claws it can retain a very tenacious hold of the hairs of 
animals, and when pulled, so tight is its grip, the outer sheath of a 
hair will be seen to peel like the bark off a twig.* No slight rub, or 
switch from an animal's tail, will therefore dislodge it, or drive it 
away. ‘I'his may set it in motion, when it may fly to another part, or 
cause increased irritation by running about. The movements are 
quick and somewhat crab-like, which tickle sensitive animals. 
‘“‘When first some horses make its acquaintance they are very 
restive, and frequently become unmanageable; donkeys will sometimes 
roll and kick for an hour in their endeavour to get rid of the fly. On 
the wild ponies (and cattle) which run in the Forest these flies are 
frequently to be seen in clusters like bees.” 
In regard to the method of feeding of the Forest Flies by blood- 
sucking, Mr. Gibb mentioned that he had closely watched them on a 
young Arabian pony turned out to grass on the edge of the Forest, and 
had taken them in the act. The skin was very clean, so that nothing 
else could be found, and when examined blood was found. Yet the 
bite seems less irritating, as the animal was not much disturbed by the 
flies when sucking blood. And in another letter Mr. Gibb also 
mentioned regarding the above points: —‘‘It will take blood, as I have 
frequently killed flies containing the same, and fully distended by the 
quantity they had taken. Yet I believe most flies examined will be 
found without. And animals do not seem to mind the presence of 
these flies so long as they remain at rest. 
‘‘On cattle running in the Forest, flies are to be seen in clusters 
numbering many hundreds without the animals feeling disturbed. 
The parts where these flies congregate do not become tender, so their 
bite must be of a mild form, else I think cattle could never become so 
reconciled to their presence.”’ 
* This power of the Hippobosca of splitting the hairs to which it adheres will 
be found mentioned in the number of the ‘Field’ for August 3rd, 1895, p. 219, by 
& correspondent writing from Cachar, India. In this it is mentioned :—‘“‘I have 
often amused myself by grasping the fly by the wings between finger and thumb, 
then allowing it to catch the hair on the back of my other hand. So sharp is the 
claw, that the hair grasped by it is cut to shavings like wood by a carpenter’s 
plane.’’—(J. B. D,) 
