HOUSE FLY. 81 
inches in height, fed principally on grass, out all day exposed to the 
sun, stabled in filthy holes, and are most disgracefully treated and 
neglected. Dozens of these unfortunate creatures are blind from 
irritation set up by these flies, and present huge ulcers on either side 
of the face just below the eyes, the result of constant lachrymation 
and irritation of the flies. The eyelids are thickened and averted, and 
the appearance is awful. The flies are dreadfully persistent, and will 
not be shaken off. Horses turned loose in the field will be seen 
following each other, the hinder one carrying his head right in contact 
with the leader’s tail, so that when it swings it brushes the flies away ; 
others will be seen standing close up in twos, head to tail, and so 
obliging each other; others, again, will be observed standing close up 
in threes, two tails and a head one way, and one tail and two heads 
the other way,—the head and the two tails having the best of it; and 
so they will stand for hours keeping the flies away from their eyes. 
Hye fringes are worn to protect the eyes from the attacks of these 
flies, and I am sending you one specimen by this post of the eye 
fringe used here.” 
In the case of the very ample supply of specimens sent me by Dr. 
Hart, these appeared to be all of one species, as amongst all of those 
which I examined I did not find any differing from the samples 
identified for me (see p. 80) as being Musca domestica; but for the 
most part, the complaints of ‘‘ House Fly”’ presence sent me in this 
country are so wholly unaccompanied by specimens, that they might 
refer to any kind of so-called “ flies,’’ or fly-like insects, which happen 
to occur in large numbers. The notes are therefore quite useless as 
observations; but methods of prevention and remedy may be very 
similarly brought to bear upon most of what pass under the name of 
House Flies. 
PREVENTION AND Remepies.—Looking first at the larger House Fly, 
Musca domestica, in the point of view of its early stages being passed 
wholly or chiefly in horse droppings or manure, something might be 
done by even moderate care and cleanliness to lessen its numbers. 
The filthy state in which lower class stables and their surroundings 
are often kept, and the amount of horse droppings left exposed in 
fields and roads, are of themselves able to bree: flies enough to infest 
all neighbouring houses in legions; and where it is thought worth 
while, removal of horse droppings, and treating the manure with such 
insect deterrents as would not spoil its quality for use, would probably 
save us much annoyance. Lime might injure it, but gas-lime would 
not have the same effect; and the same principle applied to the 
various foul substances, or substances in foul and putrid condition, 
which various well qualified and careful observers consider to be 
G 
