REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 263 



THE HORN-FLY. 



(Rcematobia serrata, Rob.-Desv.) 



The invasion of Canada by this pernicious insect was first noticed in 1892, and 

 every year since that date losses from the irritating bites of the Horn-fly have been 

 complained of by cattle owners in some new parts of the country. The hope expressed 

 in my annual report for 1893 that the numbers of the flies would after two or three years 

 become less and less in any invaded district, has, to a large measure, been realized. In 

 the province of Ontario, where the first Canadian specimens of the Horn-fly wei'e noticed, 

 there is a decided diminution of the numbers of this pest. Among answers to the 

 questions sent out by Prof. Panton of Guelph, to farmers in different parts of the pro- 

 vince, 25 reports were received of its increase and 46 of its decrease, and 2-5 correspon- 

 dents noticed no change in the numbers. The following extracts are also of interest : — 



" London, Ont., Dec. 7. — The Horn-fly was very conspicuous in its season, but the 

 alarm concerning it seems to have abate/i." — J. Dearness. 



" Sackville, Westmoreland Co., N.B., July 13. — I mail to your address under 

 separate cover several specimens of a very troublesome fly known here as the Horn-fly. 

 They gather in large clusters about the base of the horns and around the root of the tail, 

 also under the flanks. They are evidently the cause of a very decided decrease in the 

 flow of milk among the cows of this place. If you have a remedy for them, please let 

 me know as soon as possible." — John L. Fawcett. 



" Pointe de Bute, Westmoreland Co., N.B. — The Horn-fly was not quite so trouble- 

 some to the cattle this year in New Brunswick as last, but for several weeks was very 

 active. Very little was done to protect the cows. The impression is growing that the 

 fly will disappear in a short time." — Howard Trueman. 



"Yarmouth, N.S. — The prescription I used for the Horn-fly was taken from the 

 Country Gentleman : — ' Take equal parts of lard and coal oil with a few drops of carbolic 

 acid, and apply every few days as needed.' Any soft grease may be used instead of 

 lard. I observed drinking at a public fountain near my place two yokes of oxen, the 

 bodies of one yoke covered with thousands of these flies, while the others were entirely 

 free from them. ' What do you use for the Horn-fly V I asked from the driver of the 

 former yoke. ' Fish oil,' was the reply. Whale oil soap would, no doubt, be effective. 

 Along the sea coast fish oil is cheap and easily procured, and it is probably more durable 

 than coal oil and grease." — Charles E. Brown. 



" Berwick, King's Co., N.S. — The Horn-fly was very abundant. I found an English 

 sheep dip (E. Liddle k Co.'s., I think,) applied to the cows ^^ ith a bi-ush about once in 

 three days the cheapest and best preventive I have yet tried." — S. C. Parker. 



'* Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Co., N.S. — The Horn-fly was not nearly so numerous 

 nor blood-thirsty as last year, and I hope will disappear in a year or two." — David G. 

 Crawford. 



" Glace Bay, Cape Breton, N.S. — The Horn-fly continues to give us some trouble, 

 but not quite as much as at first. Various methods ai e adopted to defeat them, all fairly 

 successful." — J AS. W. Edwards. 



" Charlottetown, P.E.I. — The Horn-fly did a great deal of damage here during the 

 summer of 1895. I think a reasonable estimate for milch cows would be about one-sixth 

 shrinkage in the milk flow, and fattening cattle did not do well. Last season (1896) they 

 were not nearly so bad. I hope they have had their day and will not show up in the 

 spring."^ — Thos. J. Dillon. 



"Alberton, P. E. I.— The Horn-fly was, many say, as bad as last year. My own 

 personal observation points to a decrease, but others say to the contrary. Our farmers 

 are at a loss for a cheap effective remedy. Kerosene emulsion, fish oil, vegetable oils are 

 all ineffectual to completely keep off the pest."— Rev. A. E. Burke. 



Remedies.— ThevQ is nothing new to record in the way of remedies. As previously 

 stated {Experimental Farm Report, 1893, page 186), almost any greasy pubstance 

 rubbed on the animals will keep the flies away for several days. A number of experi- 

 ments were tried in the field with the result that train oil alone and train oil or lard 



