82 THE BOOK OF THE FLY 



removable rain-proof cover and shade of ample size. 

 The latter should allow a two-inch space or a little more 

 underneath all around the rim of the pot for ventilation. 

 Underneath the table or stand a wide and more or less 

 shallow pan or dish should be placed, and a little clean 

 sharp sand placed therein. 



The gentles, whilst growing and feeding, are called 

 "green" gentles ; their skin is transparent, and in this 

 state chickens do not like eating them ; and it is as 

 well so, for then the half-grown gentles would be 

 capable of temporarily becoming deleterious internal 

 parasites in the birds' crop. As soon as they are full 

 grown they crawl away from the food material and will 

 fall through the strainer-like obstruction in the bottom 

 hole of the pot into the pan on the ground underneath. 

 They are then termed clean or "scoured" gentles and 

 are lit for bird-food or for fishing-bait. 



If taken out of the pan and placed in boxes with a 

 little sand, they will keep three days, more or less, 

 according to the weather ; they then pupate, and in a 

 few days, or weeks, or months, accordingto temperature, 

 emerge as blue-bottles. As pupae they are good and 

 convenient food for domestic fowls, and for ;dl 

 pheasants and like game-birds. 



If receptacles as above directed are situate in a fowl- 

 run, the hens will never leave the ground dish 

 unwatched as long as full fed gentles are maturing. 

 Hens thus fed are prolific layers of eggs, but of course 

 they must be otherwise fairly fed with farinaceous and 

 suitable other food and healthy grit. The maggots of 

 no other flies are worth similarly cultivating ; those 

 that feed on vegetable refuse are more offensive in 



