REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 499 



as are formed by canes, and thus rid themselves of many tormentors, 

 but all in vain. If creeks are near by, some find partial protection by 

 immersing themselves in the water. 



Hogs also run madly about. If mud is accessible, they do not fail 

 to make good use of that material and wallow in it. 



Sheep run about blindly, crying piteously all the time. 



Dogs and cats are sensible enough to search for dark shelters in 

 stables or remain in the house. 



Poultry of various kinds seek relief by flying in high trees. They 

 assist each other in picking off their tormentors, thus partly freeing 

 themselves. 



Deer try to find relief by running away from the gnats. 



But all such methods avail but little without the assistance of man. 

 Fires are started everywhere to produce a dense smoke. As soon as 

 the tormented animals notice such smoke they all show their good 

 sense by rushing to it, invariably selecting that side of the fire where 

 the smoke is densest. Here they crowd together, and many are in- 

 jured by too close proximity to the glowing embers. Nor can they 

 be driven away by hunger; and only during a dark night, or in the 

 brightest light of the midday sun, do some of them venture out in 

 search of food. 



PREVENTIVES. 



Smudges have thus far proved the best method of protecting ani- 

 mals in the field against Buffalo Gnats. Thoughtful planters are in 

 the habit of collecting and storing during the year all kinds ot mate- 

 rial that will produce a dense and stifling smoke; such materials are 

 old leather, cast-off clothing, dried dung, &c. As soon as large 

 swarms of gnats appear, and the stock is threatened by them, fires 

 are started in different parts of the plantation, and are kept burning 

 as long as the danger lasts. Anything that will produce smoke is 

 thrown upon the smoldering logs, and the most offensive is consid- 

 ered the most useful. If the time for plowing has arrived, smudges 

 are located in the fields in such a manner that the smoke is drifted 

 by the wind over the teams at work. Such smoke-producing fires 

 are also kept burning in the cities, and they are found in front of 

 every livery and street-car stable, as well as of such stores as employ 

 draft horses or mules. If these animals have to be upon the roads, 

 they may usually be somewhat protected by tin pails in which some 

 smudge is kept, and which are suspended from their necks and from 

 the wagons. 



_ Animals may also be protected with a layer of mud or a coat of 

 sirup. It has been found that animals which have shed their rough 

 winter coat of hair and have become smooth are not as much troubled 

 as others still covered with long hairs. The gnats find it much more 

 difiicult to obtain a foothold upon a smooth skin, and the clipping of 

 the hair m early spring is therefore advisable. 



Buffalo Gnats have a great aversion to entering dark places, and 

 stables thoroughly darkened are safe places for stock of all kinds in 

 a gnat season. The odor of ammonia prevailing in such stables may 

 also to some extent prevent the insects from entering. Planters with 

 a small acreage, therefore, prefer to keep their horses and mules in 

 the stable instead of working them in the field. For the same rea- 

 son the o\v-ners of livery stables will not allow their animals to be 

 taken outside the city limits if gnats are numerous enough to be dan- 

 gerous. 



