DO” INSECTS AFFECTING DOMESTIC ANIMALS, 
prepared with some means of protecting themselves when far from 
shelter during the season of the year when the flies abound. 
NATURAL ENEMIES OF BUFFALO GNATS 
The adults have so far appeared but little subject to attack from 
other animals. But few birds have been observed to feed upon them, 
though for the Southern forms the mocking bird, winter wren, and 
especially barnyard fowls, after the flies become gorged with blood, 
feed upon them Dragon flies (Libellulide) and robber flies (Asilide) 
have been observed to catch them. 
The larve are devoured in large numbers by the smaller fishes, min- 
nows, ete.; and probably the carnivorous beetles, bugs, and other 
aquatic insects prey upon them. Dr. Howard bas observed near 
Washington the larvie of a species of Hydropsyche feeding upon the 
larvie of a Species common in that locality. 
The pup are pretty well protected by the resemblance in color to 
the objects to which they are fastened and their quiet habits. The 
egos would seem to be open to the attacks of fishes, carnivorous bee- 
tles, etc., but no positive observations seem to have been made. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES WITH NOTES ON THEIR HABITS. 
The species of this family, though not extremely numerous, have not 
been very fully characterized, and it is with difficulty that they are 
defined in brief terms. The attempt here is to enumerate the species 
so far clearly established, but more particularly to present the habits 
of each as related to domestic animals, without entering upon anything 
like a monographic treatment of them. 
THE COLUMBACZ MIDGE. 
(Simulium columbatezense Schonbauer. ) 
This, the first species to be studied in detail, was fully described by 
Ch. Schonbauer! nearly a century ago, and has been discussed by 
Kollar and others at various times since. The past history of the 
species, its distribution, destructiveness, etc., have already been stated. 
Its distribution extends over the valley of the Danube, though par- 
ticularly marked in the region of Columbacz, and some authors believe 
its distribution to be quite general and many other species to be but 
Synonyms. 
Kollar? says ‘a small fly, the length of which scarcely reaches 14 
lines and its breadth half a line, is one of the greatest scourges of the 
Banat of Temesvar, particularly that part situated between Uypa- 
lanka and Ursowa, which borders on the Danube.” 
1 Geschichte der schiidlichen Kolumbatezer Miikken im Banat, Wien, Patzkowsky, 
1795. 
2 Treatise on Injurious Insects, etc., pp. 68, 70. 
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