66 HUMBLE CEEATTJEES. 



sence of a little tube {ovipositor), situated at tlie end 

 of the abdomen. This organ is formed of three or 

 four riagSj which the fly can protrude or retract, 

 after the manner of a telescope^ and employs for the 

 purpose of depositing her eggs. Internally the organs 

 of the female consist of a pair of branching tubes, ia 

 which the ova are developed, whilst the male is fur- 

 nished with tubes and glands necessary for the deve- 

 lopment of the fructifying elements, these organs in 

 both sexes being situated in the abdominal section of 

 the body. Beyond this there is nothing of interest 

 to the general reader in this portion of the Fly's 

 anatomy. 



KeUerj the naturalist, to whom we have just re- 

 ferred, and who studied the history of the Fly with 

 considerable attention, tells us that the female deposits 

 her eggs six or eight days after impregnation. This 

 she usually does in such decaying substances as her 

 instinct denotes to be suitable for the nourishment of 

 her larvae, as, for example, the heaps of vegetables 

 and other substances that are found in the neigh- 

 bourhood of our dwellings. 



" If," says Keller, " the Fly be enabled to choose 

 the place which suits her best for the deposition of 

 her eggs (as for instance, in my sugar-basin, in which 

 I placed a quantity of decaying wheat), she takes a 

 correct survey of every part, and selects that in which 

 she believes her ova will be the best preserved, and 

 her young ones well cared for. If there were too 

 much moisture, the maggots would be drowned ; if too 



