360 Life and Immortality, 



Some fifteen years ago I mentioned in an article, entitled 

 " Insect Pets," a pair of flies, the common Musca domestica 

 of our houses, which had been closely observed by Mr. 

 Forestel, the gentleman who at that time had charge of the 

 distributing department of the Philadelphia Record. This 

 position necessitates nocturnal employment. While taking 

 his midnight lunch, Mr. Forestel's attention was directed to 

 a pair of these insects that had located themselves upon his 

 plate. Had it been in the summer when flies were plentiful, 

 the event would hardly have been noticed ; but being in the 

 winter, a season notable for their great scarcity, they could 

 not but impress his mind with something out of the ordinary. 

 Night after night these self-invited and curious guests pre- 

 sented themselves at the same place, and it was a long time 

 before he observed the regularity of their visits. At first he 

 was disposed to view the alighting of two flies upon his plate 

 as a mere coincidence, but he at length became so deeply 

 interested in the affair, that he resolved to watch their actions 

 very closely. It was not long before he became convinced 

 that they always waited for the commencement of the meal, 

 when they would deliberately fly down for their regular 

 lunch. So closely did he watch them, that he was soon able 

 to discriminate between the two, and to discover beyond a 

 doubt that it was not a series of two flies, but always the 

 same pair. As time progressed, Mr. Forestel and the flies 

 grew to be famous friends. They in time became so friendly, 

 that they would permit themselves to be handled. Although 

 at first they would only appear when Mr. Forestel was alone, 

 yet they soon became accustomed to strangers. On the nights 

 when their friend was not on duty, others have spread 

 their lunches on the table used by him, but the flies were 

 not slow in making the discovery, and, instead of alighting, 

 would quickly hasten away without their accustomed meal. 

 Who can deny the possession of memory to these two flies ? 

 Had the discovery of the food been an accidental occurrence 

 the first time, could it have been so the second and all the 



