512 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



In the months of May and Jane, these swellings may be found 

 in great plenty. They are mostly seen upon young cattle, and 

 as a general rule are situated close to the spine. So common 

 indeed are they, that out of a whole farm-stock of cattle I have 

 seen almost every cow under the age of four years attacked by the 

 Breeze Fly, and counted from two or three to twelve or fourteen 

 upon a single animal It is said that as many as forty have been 

 detected upon a single cow, but such an event has not come 

 within my own observation. 



The swellings caused by the Breeze Fly are called Wurbles, or 

 Wormls, and can be easily detected by passing the hand along 

 the back. Strangely enough, the cow does not appear to feel any 

 pain from the presence of these large parasites, nor does she 

 suffer in condition from them, although it would seem that they 

 must keep up a continual drain upon the system. Indeed, some 

 experienced persons have thought that, instead of being injurious, 

 they are absolutely beneficial 



When the grub has reached its fuU development, it pushes 

 itself backwards out of the gall, and falls to the ground, into 

 which it burrows. Presently, the skin of the pupa becomes 

 separated from that of the larva, and the latter dies, and becomes 

 the habitation in which the pupa lives. The head portion of the 

 skin is so formed that it flattens when dry, and can easily be 

 pushed off, like the lid of a box, permitting the perfect fly to 

 escape. Even when the insect is still in its pupal condition this 

 lid can be removed, so that the pupa can be seen within its 

 curious habitation. I may mention here that insects which are 

 thus covered while in theii pupal state, so as to show no traces 

 of the creature within, are said to undergo a " coarctate " meta- 

 morphosis. Nearly all the diptera are examples of the coarctate 

 insects. 



Befobe we close the subject of parasites, it will be needful to 

 give a brief account of one or two parasitic insects which possess 

 points of peculiar interest in the habitations which they make, 

 or in the places wherein they find their abode. 



' One of these insects is a rather pretty beetle, termed CUrua 

 alvearius. In its perfect state it is innocent enough, but in its 

 l&rval state it is so destructive among the hives, that all bee- 

 keepers will do well to destroy every Olerus that they can catch. 



