64 NATURAL HISTORY. 



as compared with the canine organism or the bovine organism, and yet it is fairly 

 well frequented, and the inhabitants are of various castes and manners. The 

 country is a fairly hot one, and very uniform in temperature, the thermometer 

 constantly standing at about 100° P., with a range of not more than a couple of 

 degrees. A moist country, moreover, in most parts, but not without fairly dry 

 spots, which are sometimes frequented. The air varies very much in different parts. 

 On the large canal known as the alimentary, it consists principally of carbonated 

 and sulphuretted hydrogen. In the passage known as the respiratory it is beauti- 

 fully fresh, but very moist, and with a genial warmth about it. Fortunately for the 

 inhabitants of this geographical region, they can utilize the oxygen contained in the 

 surrounding fluids by absorbing it through the skin surface ; they, therefore, are not 

 concerned as to whether their atmosphere is good or bad, and having neither lungs 

 nor bronchi do not dread either asthma or pneumonia. This is rather fortunate for 

 them as, we shall shortly see, they are apt to be abruptly turned out into the cold. 



A wonderfully disturbed region is the alimentary canal above-mentioned, sometimes 

 narrow, sometimes expanding into broads, and always agitated by a peculiar, churning 

 motion most aggravating to a parasite, were it not that it is thereby saved the trouble 

 of going far to seek food. One can hold fast in such a place by means of anchors and 

 pincers, as received through the beneficent foresight of Providence, and in ease and 

 luxury collect the beautifully prepared morsels which are brought to our mouths by 

 the constant movement of our canal home in ever fresh supplies. We can adopt the 

 tactics of the oyster, but our food is better prepared than his, and we do not need 

 even the lazy motion of arms to grasp it, or the waving to and fro of nets to catch. 

 A jovial life the inhabitant of the alimentary canal leads until in an unguarded mo- 

 ment he happens to let go his ho'd ; then he is pushed from his broad residence 

 through numerous narrows probably filled with food offensive to his palate, and at 

 last is by cruel fate expelled even from the equine organism, and left to do as best 

 he can when suddenly exposed to the terrible influence of a temperature of but GO F. 

 Happy is the worm who before becoming the victim of so tragic a fate has made 

 provision for the future of his race, and can die happy in the assurance that his ova 

 will resist those influences to which he has succumbed, and that, in due course, his 

 progeny will enter the region he has dost and carry on his life's works ! Let us take 

 some few of the inhabitants of the equine organism, and see what manner of beings 

 they are. The alimentary canal of the horse has on its course a large pouch called 

 the stomach, in which we are almost sure of a "find," in India especially. On cut I ing 

 open this pouch we note its lining membrane to be of two parts, one quite white, the 

 other reddish white. On the former part we shall probably find what the uninitiated 

 would call maggots, but what are commonly called " Bots" ; on the latter part 

 we shall very likely see innumerable small thread-like worms really of two kinds 

 called "great mouths" and "little mouths" (spiroptera), and probably some 

 "abodes" which they have made for themselves. (1) The Bots are maggots of 

 the Gad fly, that is they are the young of certain winged insects for which Nature 

 has found a most comfortable abode in which they may develope. When they 

 wish they can hold on by two black prickle-like hooks which they have at one end, 

 and when they want to move on they can do so after the manner of worms, joint 

 by joint, gaining a grip on the surface over which they are travelling. As the 

 part of the mucous membrane to which they are attached is very smooth, each joint 

 has on it numerous horny spines which give a good grip. These bots arc not harm- 

 less t° the horse. A few cause him little inconvenience, but. many may even cause 



