210 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



minute dimensions — so small as to be barely visible. A 

 winged insect this — tlie little grey midge, wbicli here 

 and there hovers in swarms, as gnats. Unlike the harvest 

 bug, it directs its attacks against the upper extremity of 

 the person, alighting upon, and biting, the exposed parts 

 of the neck and face, more especially the ears and fore- 

 head. It will even penetrate through a close crop of hair, 

 and make itself felt on the skin of the head, if hatless. 

 The irritation is such that the finger-nails are freely used, 

 till " bumps " show all over the head and behind the ears, 

 the ears themselves red from repeated rubbings. Even 

 the weather-hardened cuticle of the rustic is not proof 

 against its envenomed darts j and labourers engaged in 

 outdoor work, when under trees, or in the farmyard, are 

 often grievously annoyed by it. This year the midges 

 are more than usually numerous, and more than ever 

 virulent. 



So also have been two species of large flies that aflElict 

 horses and cattle. " Have been," for luckily the cooler 

 atmosphere has long since routed them. One is the 

 forest, or horse, fly {Hippobosca equina), an ugly brown 

 insect; the other of bluish colour, locally known as the 

 "bree fly." Cows bitten by the bree will throw up 

 their tails, and gallop about, bellowing as if mad, and 

 breaking through fences they would not otherwise face ; 

 while one fastening upon a horse, especially if a fine- 

 blooded, thin-skinned animal, will cause him to bolt in 

 harness, if the reins be not dexterously handled. 



