152 INJURIOUS AND USEFUL INSECTS 



brown. The thorax is yellow and black, the abdomen pale in 

 front, dark in the middle, and foxy red behind. As in a bee, 

 we find almost everywhere beneath the velvety hairs a hard 

 and black cuticle. The female fly has a long drawn-out tip to 

 the abdomen. 



Warbles cause much loss to the grazier. It is true that the 

 wound closes as soon as the maggot has squeezed itself out 

 and fallen to the earth. But the scar is made up of loose 

 fibres, which break up during the vigorous handling of the 

 tan-yard, and the hide is greatly impaired if many warbles 

 have lodged within it. Effectual remedies against warbles 

 are known, and if steadily applied, would soon bring about 

 a notable abatement of the plague. In the first place 

 the maggots can be squeezed out and destroyed. The best 

 time for doing this is April, when the warble cavities have 

 opened, but when the maggots are not yet ready to quit the 

 ox. An application of some adhesive form of grease, such as 

 the various smears sold for the purpose, or a mixture of tallow 

 and tar, will infallibly choke the larva by cutting off its supply 

 of air. A dab laid on the opening suffices, if it does not get 

 rubbed off. Such remedies do not save the hide, and are only 

 of use as a precaution against future visitations. They may 

 usefully be combined with remedies which are calculated to 

 deter the female fly from settling on the oxen. Train-oil, well 

 perfumed with petroleum, is said to be effective if rubbed upon 

 the legs and feet* The application should be. made twice a 

 week in dry, hot weather, when the flies are much abroad ; in 

 cool or rainy weather once a week is enough. The flies are 

 to be expected from June to October, but they occasionally 

 show themselves in May and November also. 



* It is to be remarked that the place of application depends upon exact 

 knowledge of the place upon which the eggs are laid. This is not yet 

 beyond dispute (see above). 



