OX WARBLE FLY. 131 
has been made to me from various quarters that I would come 
forward publicly as advocating it being made compulsory that all 
owners of warbled cattle shall dress the warbles in some satisfactory 
manner during the spring, and that the police should see the order 
carried out. 
In regard to writing to the Press on this subject, I should consider 
(as I do not hold any official position) that I should be taking a very 
great liberty in endeavouring thus to bring action to bear as requested 
on the Board of Agriculture, more especially as I gather from Press 
notices that the Board of Agriculture has been applied to and declined 
to act. 
But in my own publications the case is different, and here I hope 
I am not presuming in saying that, though we all are perfectly aware 
that far more action is needed than is as yet taken by a large propor- 
tion of farmers with regard to destruction of warbles at the season 
when they are most prevalent, and also in application of preventive 
dressings in summer, I have no hesitation in stating that I believe it is 
demonstrable, from both farming and statistical records and entomo- 
logical data, that the practical extinction of the Warble Fly in this 
country, in which it has long been thoroughly established, by any 
measures whatsoever, is NoT within the bounds of possibility. 
So fully do I believe this that, so far from desiring to aid in 
petitioning for compulsory measures, I should think myself much 
more justifiable in suggesting to all owners of cattle that they should 
be on the alert, and, if it came to such a point, that they should 
earnestly petition that they should be left undisturbed by compulsory 
interference with their property. 
In regard to data on which opinion can be formed on this matter, 
it appears to me to rest much on knowledge of two leading points :— 
1. How far warble maggot is to be found-present throughout the 
year. This is of vital importance in the consideration. 
2. Where the plan of destruction of maggots in the spring has 
been carried out as we have trustworthy record of it having been 
done regularly for thirteen years in one district, what has been the 
result ? 
Once again I beg most respecfully to submit that I only give my 
own views consequently on having been so repeatedly pressed re- 
garding the matter; but I lay the following notes from information 
in my possession before my readers that they may judge for themselves 
how the matter stands. 
The first portion of the subject entered on, it will be seen, is the 
condition of the warble maggot during the year in connection with 
the cattle; next, some market reports showing date of presence in 
hides; and thirdly, extracts from communications given me (duly 
K 2 
