190 MANAGEMENT OP SHEEP. 



second number of the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, they 

 are thus described : 



" The fly which is so troublesome to sheep, as far as my 

 observations could extend, consist of four species, viz. — the 

 Muscar Ceasar, Cadavcrina, Vomitoria, and Carnaria, of 

 Linnaeus. ##*### 



" M. Ceasar is of a shining green color. 



" M. Cadaverma, the thorax shining bluish, the abdomen 

 green, like the Ceasar. 



" M. Vomitoria, thorax black, or dark-blue grey, abdomen 

 dark glossy blue. This is the common Blue-bottle or Flesh- 



fly- 



" M. Carnaria, grey ; the thorax has three black longitu- 

 dinal markings on the upper surface ; the abdomen is chec- 

 quered, in some positions shining whitish. 



" In all instances in which I observed them, the green 

 flies were the first to attack, and this is the common opinion 

 among the shepherds. After a time, when the larvae (mag- 

 gots) commenced gnawing the flesh, the putrid stench, which 

 was thereby occasioned, attracted other species. The Blae- 

 hottle was very common, more numerous than both the for- 

 mer species, and perhaps contributed most to accelerate the 

 death of the animal, after the others had commenced. * * 



" In five days after the larvae are hatched they arrive at 

 full growth, provided they have plenty of food ; they then 

 cease to eat, and seek to assume the pupa state, crawling 

 under ground two or three inches. Here they remain about 

 fourteen days, when the shell cracks, and the imago, or fly, 

 appears." 



The correctness of this description of their transformation 

 Blacklock attests, from having watched their habits during 

 his anatomical pursuits in the summer months. 



To ward off" the attacks of flies, v'arious substances ob- 

 noxious to them have been recommended. Tar, with spirits 

 turpentine, may be applied about the ears, horns, and tail ; 

 while others prefer a little melted butter, thickened by flour 

 of sulphur, put also along the sheep's back, which is, on the 

 authority of Blacklock, an effectual preventive. 



Flock-masters cannot be too vigilant during the summer 

 months, in watching closely every individual, and if any are 

 seen with scours, they should be got up, and tar and turpen- 

 tine applied. Rams should be still more closely observed, 

 especially the Saxon and Merino, whose pugnacious tempers 



