THE PLAGUE OF FLIES. 133 



often form chains of communication, so that boats can 

 penetrate for immense distances through an otherwise 

 almost impenetrable forest country. Such instances 

 are numerous throughout the world, and often form 

 the only means by which the communications of pri- 

 mitive man have been able to be maintained through- 

 out great periods of time. As may be supposed there- 

 fore, there is likely to be no lack of good sport for 

 the wild-fowl shooter or the fisherman in such places ; 

 though their enormous extent is often apt to militate 

 somewhat against the making of heavy bags, except 

 as we have said at certain seasons, when migrations 

 are in progress. At other times game becomes so 

 scattered over the vast expanse, that it is very hard to find. 



There is one thing, however, which we regret to 

 say, forms a very serious drawback to what would 

 otherwise probably be the sportsman's sense of perfect 

 enjoyment we mean THE FLIES. 



The constant torment created by these insect pests, 

 everywhere throughout the Great Forest Region of 

 the Temperate Zone, must really be experienced 

 in one's own proper person, before a man can fully 

 realize the extent and virulence of this scourge. 

 There are vast districts of wild country, which as we 

 shall have occasion to show are rendered practically 

 uninhabitable simply by the fly the data which we 

 have collected upon this subject, are however so 

 voluminous that we shall be unable to do justice to 

 it within the limits of the present work. This subject 

 is one of great interest, and though many authors 

 have alluded to it in a cursory way, so far as we 

 can discover none have attempted to write upon it as 

 a speciality. 



