58 Veteri7iary Medicine. 



The male like that of the mosquito lives on vegetable juices. 

 The larvae live in earth or water and are carnivorous, subsisting 

 on the larvae of other insects, etc. 



The female tabanus attacks the large animals, wild and tame, 

 and even man himself. It flies with a buzzing noise and 

 with extraordinary speed, catching up with the swiftest victim, 

 and alighting on the most delicate parts of the skin, which it in- 

 stantly perforates and sucks blood until gorged. When it leaves 

 a drop of blood is left to dry and a temporary .swelling marks the 

 spot. They are charged with conveying infection from animal to 

 animal. 



There are .several hundreds of species, the most familiar of 

 which are named in the list of diptera given above. 



H^MATOPOTA (bloodsucker), CHRYSOPS (golden eyes), 



PANGONIA. 



The haematopota, a division of the tabanidas, are among the 

 most fierce in their attacks, and once settled allow themselves to 

 be killed rather than give up their bloody feast. The smallest, 

 H. Pluvialis, about Yz inch long, flies especially after a shower. 

 H. Tenuicornis and H. Grandis, the Clegg of North Britain 

 are equally predaceous. The chrysops is named from the golden 

 yellow reflection from its eyes, which are multiplied by three 

 additional. C. Caecutiens (blinding breeze fly) has the habit 

 of settling on the eyes and eyelids. It is 9 mm. long, with brown 

 wings, wide apart and each marked by two .spots, anterior and 

 posterior ; abdomen flattened and gray with a yellow ring at the 

 base. About 50 North American species are described. A Pan- 

 gonia preying on cattle in New Caledonia is charged with propa- 

 gating anthrax. 



ERISTAUS (DRONE FI.Y). HEJIvOPHILUS (MARSH FI.Y) 



The family of syrphidae, characterized by a tail-like prolonga- 

 tion in the larval state (rat-tailed maggots) is represented by 

 Eristalis Tenax and Helophilus Pendulinus which not only 

 attack the horse but are found present as larvae in horse manure, 

 and have therefore been credited with living in the intestines. 



