146 



of the proboscis was straightened and held vertically, and the 

 anterior third was driven into the flesh [Newstead remarks in a 

 note that : " In thick-skinned animals the proboscis would in all 

 probability be driven in still further."]. During the process, which 

 lasted altogether for a period of 15 minutes, the proboscis was 

 constantly, but somewhat slowly, moved up and down, and also 

 with an occasional semi-rotary movement, reminding one somewhat 

 of the action of a quarryman's hand drill. This action was continued 

 until the fly had pumped its body full of blood. The initial pain 

 was trifling compared with that of a mosquito ; but there were two 

 subsequent pricks which were quite as irritating as the first. A 

 small drop of blood was left over the puncture, and when this was 

 washed away a small roseola was revealed ; but there was no 

 subsequent irritation or soreness of any kind. A clear fluid was 

 passed from the anus four times during the process, and on several 

 occasions subsequently, and judging from the size of the abdomen 

 the food was rapidly assimilated."* 



For an account of the anatomy of the mouth-parts of Stomoxys 

 calcitrans, the reader is referred to the excellent and admirably 

 illustrated paper by Stephens and Newsteadf : for the internal 

 anatomy, Tulloch's paper,:}: which refers either to this species or 

 to Stomoxys nigra, Macq., should be consulted. 



No observations on the breeding-habits of 



Life-history Stomoxys calcitrans in Africa have yet been 



of Stomoxys recorded, but the life-history of the species has 



calcitrans. been studied in Europe and North America. So 



long ago as 1834, Bouche stated that the larva 



* Cf. R. Newstead, Journal of Economic Biology, Vol. L, pp. 159, 160 (1906), and 

 Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Series T. M., Vol. I., No. 1, p. 79 

 (February 1, 1907). 



f " The Anatomy of the Proboscis of Biting Flies, by J. W. W. Stephens, 

 M.D.Cantab., and B. Newstead, A.L.S., F.E.S. Part II. Stomoxys (Stable-Flies) " : 

 Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Series T. M., Vol. I., No. 2, pp. 171-198, 

 Plates XII. -XIX. (June 15, 1907). Cf. also Hansen, "The Mouth-Parts of 

 Glossina and Stomoxys," Austen's " Monograph of the Tsetse-Flies," pp. 105-120, 

 Plates VIII. and IX. (1903). 



J " The Internal Anatomy of Stomoxys," by (the late) F. Tulloch, Lieut. B.A.M. 

 Corps: Proceedings of the Royal Society, B., Vol. 77, pp. 523-531, five figures in 

 text (1906). 



" Naturgeschichte der Insekten," p. 56 (Berlin, 1834). 



