BRACHYCERA 435 



or four claw-like booklets. These maggots live in decomposing organic 

 matter ; they rarely live in water, and some of them are parasitic. They 

 either become barrel-shaped pupae within the last larval integument, or, after 

 casting it, are transformed into pupae. The larvae of numerous Brachycera 

 have been observed in man, some in ulcers, or on mucous membranes, 

 others in the skin, or in the intestine, &c. In many cases the report only 

 mentions the presence of the larvae of flies ; in other cases the species 

 has been determined ; whilst in still other cases the corresponding adult 

 creature is unknown. We must, therefore, confine ourselves to describing 

 the most common varieties. 



1. Phora rufipes, Meig. 



The larvae of the " hump-backed fly " live in rotting potatoes, mush- 

 "rooms, radishes, &c., and when accidentally introduced into the intestine 

 of man can, like other larvae, live there twenty-four hours, and even 

 more, a-nd may set up serious gastric disturbances. 



[The larvae of the Phoridce also live in decaying animal matter. Some 

 forms have been found breeding in dead bodies (Howard). 



P. rufipes is the same as P. pallipes, Latr. F. V. T.] 



2. Piophila casei (L.). 



Cheese flies. The larvae live in ripe cheese, with which they are some- 

 times introduced into human beings (Meschede). 



[The larvae of the cheese flies (Piophila casei} may pass through the 

 alimentary canal of human beings alive, and have been occasionally 

 referred to in cases of internal myiasis. It also breeds ijfe dead bodies in 

 adipose tissue. Howard records it on human excrement. It is thus possible 

 that some of the recorded cases of this pest being passed alive may be 

 due to eggs deposited on human faeces. F. V. T.] 



3. Teichomyza fusca, Macq. 



Syn. : Scabella urinana. 



These larvae live in the urine of privies, and are said to have been 

 repeatedly observed in the faeces or vomit of persons -(Davaine, Rogers, 

 Pruvot, &c.). 



4. Anthomyia canicularis, Meig. 



Syn. : Scalaris, Fabr., and manicata, Meig. The larvae live in vege- 

 tables, cabbage, &c.), and are beset with feathered bristles. They frequently 

 invade the intestine of persons, and produce alarming symptoms until 

 vomited up or passed with the faeces (Dubois, Wacker, Kohn, Lampa, 

 Finlayson, &c.). 



[This species is known as Homalomyia canicularis, Linn. It is common 

 to Europe and North America, and is an abundant house-fly. It is the 

 small house fly so often seen on windows. Besides living on vegetable 

 matter, they have also been found in the nests of the humble bee. Larvae 

 of this' species were sent to the British Museum, taken from the faeces of a 



