360 Life and Immortality. 
Some fifteen years ago I mentioned in an article, entitled 
“Insect Pets,” a pair of flies, the common J/usca domestica 
of our houses, which had been closely observed by Mr. 
Forestel, the gentleman who at that time had charge of the 
distributing department of the Philadelphia Record. This 
position necessitates nocturnal employment. While taking 
his midnight lunch, Mr. Forestel’s attention was directed to 
a pair of these insects that had located themselves upon his 
plate. Had it been in the summer when flies were plentiful, 
the event would hardly have been noticed; but being in the 
winter, a season notable for their great scarcity, they could 
not but impress his mind with something out of the ordinary. 
Night after night these self-invited and curious guests pre- 
sented themselves at the same place, and it was a long time 
before he observed the regularity of their visits. At first he 
was disposed to view the alighting of two flies upon his plate 
as a mere coincidence, but he at length became so deeply 
interested in the affair, that he resolved to watch their actions 
very closely. It was not long before he became convinced 
that they always waited for the commencement of the meal, 
when they would deliberately fly down for their regular 
lunch. So closely did he watch them, that he was soon able 
to discriminate between the two, and to discover beyond a 
doubt that it was not a series of two flies, but always the 
same pair. As time progressed, Mr. Forestel and the flies 
grew to be famous friends. They in time became so friendly, 
that they would permit themselves to be handled. Although 
at first they would only appear when Mr. Forestel was alone, 
yet they soon became accustomed to strangers. On the nights 
when their friend was not on duty, others have spread 
their lunches on the table used by him, but the flies were 
not slow in making the discovery, and, instead of alighting, 
would quickly hasten away without their accustomed meal. 
Who can deny the possession of memory to these two flies ? 
Had the discovery of the food been an accidental occurrence 
the first time, could it have been so the second and all the 
