HUNTERS 195 



A. The bot-fly, which is nearly as large as a 

 honey-bee, hovers close to the spot it has selected 

 for laying its eggs, and suspends itself perfectly 

 motionless in the air except for the marvellous 

 rapid vibrations of the wings, which, however, 

 emit not the slightest hum or other sound. It 

 then darts close to the place, its motions very 

 much resembling those of the humming-bird 

 moth, and suddenly extending a very long mobile 

 ovidepositor, it curls this round in front of it, 

 just touches the horse, and thus the egg is laid 

 and fixed, the fly maintaining the while a per- 

 pendicular position. This operation is continued 

 time after time until a considerable batch of eggs 

 has been deposited. 



Q. How should horses be got into condition 

 for hunting, when coming off grass ? 



A. They must not have full feeds of oats at 

 the beginning ; and should have two bran mashes 

 a week, to counteract the effect of the dry, con- 

 centrated food in the place of the luscious, soft 

 grass they have been accustomed to. In a few 

 days they should have a dose of physic ; and in 

 about three weeks' time will require another, the 

 indication being whether all the legs fill after 

 work. Physic should be given in the morning, 

 when the horse is still fasting, and he should get 

 bran mashes for at least two nights previously. 

 As soon as a horse has had physic administered 

 he must have no hay and corn, and should be 

 muzzled, or kept racked up, until his appetite 

 begins to sicken from the medicine, lest he 

 should eat his bedding. If this precaution is not 

 taken, a stoppage of the bowels may ensue with 

 serious inflammation. Balls are now made up 



