ON BOT3 (LARVAL (ESTKIDJl) OF THE UORSE AND CAMEL. 27 



white colour, and seems to show some trace o? a vertebral system. 

 Several specimens are in our collection.* 



ON BOTS (LARVAL (ESTRID^) OF THE 

 HORSE AND CAMEL. 



By Veterinary Surgeon J. H. Steel, A.V.D., 

 Superintendent, Bombay Veterinary College. 



I wish, in the following short paper, to contrast the external con- 

 formation of Pharyngobalus cameli with that of Gastrophilus equi ; 

 iu other words, the larval gadfly of the camel with the less maggot- 

 like larva of the common horse gadfly. 



I trust from this slight study to deduce results of no small interest 

 and general importance, as well as to indicate some points on which 

 I have not been able to assure myself, and concerning which perhaps 

 other workers may be able to enlighten me either at once or as the 

 result of investigation. 



These bots are maggots which live in the alimentary canal. They 

 differ much in appearance from each other and from ordinary mag- 

 gots, and in the details of structure they are, respectively, excellently 

 adapted to the situations they occupy. 



Practical observers have long noted "maggots" coming from the 

 nose of the camel, a little different from ordinary maggots. But 

 the noses of camels, especially, are liable to lacerated wounds, from 

 the nose peg and other causes, which in a tropical climate and on 

 active service are sought out by the common fly and soon become 

 the seat of development of common maggots innumerable 



* Angling in the Konkan is so very poor a business that no one need go out of his 

 way for it. But a fair evening's sport can sometimes be had with a By-rod of 12 to 

 15 feet and fine tackle, a light small float, -and a small hook on strong gut. The 

 best bait is made of the dwarf or fry barbels, cut shorl behind to not more than an 

 inch long ; and hooked through below the spine ; under the shoulder. The method of 

 fishing is as with live-bait. There should be a grain or two of shot on the trace, 

 and the bait should be about half way to the bottom. A landing net is desirable. A 

 private correspondent referring to my remarks on the Barbels of the Deccan (Vol. 1 

 p. 100), saysthat the typical European Barbel, though usually found in comparatively 

 still waters in England, does ou the Continent of Europe (and specially on the Upper 

 Rhine) frequent rapids like our mahseers. Also that the allied fish referred to by 

 me as called " shell-fish " in German must be this species, " Burbot" and " Burbolt," 

 being both names of the English ' eel-pout," a fish of another family altogether. 

 Further that this name (the German equivalent of " shell-fish." whatever it may be) 

 is assigned in German dictionaries to salt-cod. 



A correspondent in Bombay has promised to add to my list of Konkan waterfowl ; 

 and I shall be very glad if any one else will ■'. The nor,-, 



observer must necessarily leave much room for such addenda. 



