132 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



toxiciim,) wliich is said to be n narcotic poison, employed by some fami- 

 lies to destroy the common Louse-fly. The bulbs are triturated and 

 mixed "witb. molasses, but the iiies, if not swept into tbe fire or other- 

 wise destroyed, revive in the course of twenty-four hours. " Its foliage 

 also poisons cattle which feed upon it in the autumn." There is a 

 fungus found in Europe, {Aminita omiscarins,) which, when infused in 

 milk, is a deadly poison to flies, and is frequently used for that purpose. 

 This fungus also possesses some very peculiar intoxicating i^roperties, 

 and is used as a stimulant by several of the northern nations. House- 

 flies are destroyed by several parasites, among which are some hymen- 

 opterous insects, Bemhex, Vespa, &c., (wasps,) which eat and carry 

 tbem oti as food for their young. A species of Chalcis also lives in 

 their bodies. A red mite infests them externally, and numbers are 

 destroyed by a parasitic fungus, Umpusa {Sporendonema) imtsccc, which 

 grows in their bodies, and eventually kills them, leaving the dead fly 

 adhering? to the substance on which it died, and surrounded by a ring 

 of a dusty white powder, which consists of spores of the fungus. 



The common house-fly, and some other insects, are said sometimes to 

 be dangerous to mankind by conveying infectious dis- 

 eases from house to house, and several cases have 

 been reported where the bite of an apparently com- 

 mon fly had caused dangerous festering sores. In 

 such cases, however, it was presumed that the fly had 

 previously been feeding on decaying carrion, and 

 ;7^^^ had inoculated the wound with putrid virus. There 

 is a small fly, (Stomoays calcitrans,) (Fig. 19,) resem- 

 bling in general appearance the common house-fly, which stings mankind, 

 horses, and cattle very severely. They are sometimes very abundant, 

 especially before rain in dwelling-houses, and more especially when in 

 the vicinity of stables. The same remedies recommended for the horse- 

 flies [Tahanus clirysops, &c.) will apply to these also, and it is stated 

 that horses may be protected from their attacks by rubbing or washing 

 the animals with a strong decoction of tobacco-leaves, of smart-weed, 

 {Polygonum Jiydropii^er,) or the leaves of the English walnut, and doubt- 

 less a weak solution of carbolic acid would answer the same purpose. 

 The insects of Sarcophaga carnaria and other flesh-flies are frequently 

 Yi<x. 20. ■^'Gry troublesome by depositing their larvte or 



eggs in open wounds or festering sores, in man 

 and beast. The remedy is to wash frequently 

 with a weak solution of carbolic acid, to keep 

 the wound clean, and, if possible, to protect it 

 with some slight covering, so as to prevent the 

 flies from settling on it. The larvte or grubs 

 of Calliphora fomitoria, (Fig. 20,) Lucilia cccsar, 

 (Fig. 21,) and other so-called blow or meat flies, have been used v.-itli 

 great success as food for young pheasants in this country, and no doubt 

 would form a healthy article of food for young turkeys and chickens. 

 When wanted for this purpose, a piece of lights or Fig. 21. 



liver, or a sheep's head, is hung up in some place >y 



away from the dwelling, where it is exposed to the '=^5^='-- 

 flies^ but at the same time protected from the attacks 

 of predaceous animals or birds. The meat-flies in 

 the neighborhood will soon discover it, lay their eggs upon it, and in a few 

 days it will be full of these voracious maggots. A large box tilled with 

 bran is then placed directly underneath, and in the course of a few days 



