SOLIDUNGULA 387 



According to Schwab and Brauer, they rarely occupy the 

 stomach. As occurs in the common species, this bot passes 

 away with the faeces, and does not attach itself to the lower 

 bowel. The bots of Brauer's G. inermis much resemble 

 those of G. equi, but they are much smaller and attach 

 themselves to the wall of the small intestine. The bots of 

 G. pecorum, which dwell in the rectum, are readily recognised 

 by their peculiar form and scanty spination. They are pointed 

 in front and truncated posteriorly. An assinine variety of 

 G. equi has been described by Bilharz, whilst another distinct 

 species (G. flavipes) attacks the ass and mule. The bot-larvae 

 of the latter host require recognition and description. A great 

 variety of other equine bot-flies have been described, but all, 

 or nearly all, of them are mere synonyms of the above-men- 

 tioned forms. For the limitation of the species I accept 

 Brauer's authority, and likewise his nomenclature. A great 

 deal of nonsense has been written respecting bots. It is a 

 relief to believe that G. (CEstrus) veterinus, G. ferruginatus, 

 G. jubarum, G. (CE.) Clarkii, G. salutiferus, G. subjacens, and 

 many others, are not good species, at least that they are mere 

 synonyms. In regard to the occurrence of subcutaneous bot- 

 like maggots in the horse and ass, no doubt need exist on this 

 point. I am indebted to Mr Percy Gregory for characteristic 

 specimens taken from the back, neck, and withers of a four-year- 

 old gelding. They appear to correspond with the Hypoderma 

 Loiseti of Joly. Similar maggots have been found in the ass by 

 Herr Erber, but Brauer refers these to H. silenus. Prof. Briick- 

 muller published a case where the brain was infested by larvae ; 

 and Mr Shipley has sent me an example of H. equi, which he 

 states he removed from the choroid plexus of the brain. In ad- 

 dition to the cases by Woods, Goodworth, and Brewer, already 

 quoted, others have been published by Tyndal and Cartwright. 

 Amongst the numerous other parasitic dipterous larvae one 

 must notice the rat-tailed maggots (Helophilus). A genuine 

 instance of this kind has been brought under my observation, 

 but the example recorded by Professor Axe was spurious. 

 Professor Simonds and myself saw this supposed maggot, 

 which was merely a very stout and pregnant Oxyuris curvula. 

 Another genuine case was published by Mr. Stanley. This is 

 quoted by A Numan in his essay on Canurus. I have previously 

 mentioned my having received an Helophilus-larva that had 

 passed from the human body. One of the most troublesome 



