THE FLY AND ITS HABITS 



887 



EGGS OF THE HOUSE FLY. 

 (Magnified twelve diameters.) 



SURFACE OF A FLY'S EYE SHOWING FACETS. 

 (Magnified.) 



interesting fact that the closely set hairs 

 on their under surfaces secrete the sticki- 

 ness which secures the Fly's footing. 



When a Fly is not busy dabbing some- 

 thing, most likely it is stroking its head, 

 or cleaning its wings, or rubbing its 

 " hands " or its " feet " briskly together. 

 Its inquisitorial pursuits evidently necessi- 

 tate a prodigious amount of personal 

 cleansing, for which purpose the inner 

 side of the middle portion of the leg, being 

 densely hirsute, is used as a brush. 



Recently, along with others, the 

 domestic Fly was found guilty of spread- 

 ing infection by transporting haiTnful 

 microbes upon its hairs. It has also been 

 accused of desultory biting, particularly 

 during the autumn months ; but investi- 

 gation shows that the Flies frequenting 

 houses are not in\'ariably all true House 

 Flies, however similar they may seem 

 to be. Two which are often found in- 

 doors are Homalomyia and that market 

 garden pest, the Cabbage Root Fly 



FOOT OF FLY. SHOWING THE PYRIFORM PADS 

 BENEATH THE CLAWS. 



HEAD OF A TABANID MAGNIFIKD TO SHOW 

 THE TONGUE AND LANCETS. 



