PAEABITES 433 



The fly attack is generally in the region of the tail. A 

 small wound may in a short time become converted into a 

 nest of maggots, ■which remain and burrow until full fed 

 they fall to the ground. 



The fly does not limit its attacks to the region of the 

 tail ; the back, loins, and shoulders may also suffer. The 

 animals are continually rubbing, biting, or scratching 

 themselves, with constant wagging of the tail, while a 

 dirty matted state of the wool results from the oozing of 

 offensive fluid from the affected parts. As a result of the 

 irritation the sheep fall away in condition, and the general 

 health becomes impaired. 



' Maggot ' in sheep is generally an indication of neglect 

 on the part of the shepherd, who, by means of his shears 

 should remove all soiled wool from the tail region, and 

 dress any sores with a simple antiseptic, at the period when 

 this fly is prevalent. 



The fly will not attack wool dressed with infusion of 

 tobacco, solution of aloes, or asafoetida, nor will it attack 

 wounds dressed with carbolic acid, paraffin, turpentine, etc. 



The disease is very largely under 

 control ; frequent inspection and keep- 

 ing the sheep clean, so as to render 

 the wool unattractive, are the chief 

 preventive remedies, while ' docking ' 

 as a sanitary measure is most bene- 

 ficial. 



The Spider-flies or Louse-flies are a 

 peculiar group, of which the sub- 

 family Hippoboscidce are parasitic on ^^^^^^^^ 

 animals. A peculiarity in their de- fly, Ked or Kade, mag- 



, , • ii i i.1 1 nified. The line on the 



velopment is that the larvae are nour- j^j.^ indicates tlie natu- 

 ished within the body of the female ral length (Neumann- 



1 , , , Fleming). 



till full grown, when they are placed to 



the outside in a pupa case, and from this in time the 



perfect insect emerges. 



Melophagus ovinus, the Sheep louse-fly or ' Ked ' (Fig. 184). 

 These are wingless insects which live in the wool of sheep. 



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