296 Mr. Clark'j OhferViitions on the Genus Oejlrtts. 



generally follow to the water, or difperfe to different parts of the' 

 field. 



And fuch is the dread and apprehenfion in the cattle of this fly, 

 that I have feen one of them meet the herd when almoft driven 

 home, and turn them back, regardlefs of the ftones, fticks, and 

 noife of their drivers ; nor could they be flopped till they reached 

 their accuftomcd retreat itl the Water. 



When the oxen are yoked to the plough, the attack of this fly is 

 attended with real danger, as they become perfe£lly uncontroul- 

 able,and will often run with the plough directly forwards, through 

 the hedges, or whatever obftrufts their way. There is provided, 

 on this account, to many ploughs, a contrivance immediately to fet 

 them at liberty on fuch an occafion. 



The Angular fcene attending the attack of this fly on the herd, 

 has often been the fubjedl of poetical defcription ; but no one has 

 more naturally or elegantly delineated it than the bard of Mantua : 



.1 iij-i>-.V< -v. f!i 

 Eft lucos Silari circa, ilicibufque vlrentem 

 Plurimus Alburnum volitans, cui nomen AGIo 

 Romanum eft, Oeftron Graii^vertere vocantes : 

 Afper, acerba fonans : quo lota extemta fylvls 

 DifRigiunt armenta ; furit mugitibus aether 

 Concuflus, fylvseque at Ccci ripa Tanagri. 



Georg. lib. ill, ver. 146 — 15 >. 



The heifers, fleers, and younger cattle,. are. the moft frequently 

 attacked by this fly, and have in general a greater numbei- of botts 

 than others:— the ftrongeft and health left hearts Teem conftantly 

 to be preferred hy it, and this is a criterion of goodnefs in much 

 crteera with the dealers in cattle*. , 



* The choice of a found healthy fubjca for the . depoGtioii .<3f tKb eggs, is probably, 

 caufed by the folicitude of the parent for the fafety of its offspring- 



And 



