DIPTERA. AS 
by swarms. They are driven about by the wind and reach points far 
away from their breeding places. 
In Louisiana all the land inclosed by the Mississippi and Red rivers, with perhaps 
the exception of the extreme western counties, is usually invaded by the buffalo- 
gnats during a gnat year. South of the Red River they become scarce, less aggres- 
sive, and appear only at very irregular intervals. 
In Mississippi all the counties bordering on the river that gives the name to the 
State are more or less invaded during gnat years. 
All Arkansas, excepting perhaps the western counties, shares the same fate. In the 
numerous creeks and rivers of this State and of Louisiana the buffalo-gnat breeds 
most abundantly. 
In Tennessee the same conditions prevail as in Mississippi, but the swarms do not 
reach so far east as in the latter State. 
In Missouri the buffalo-gnats infest only the southeastern counties. 
Kentucky does not fare as well as Missouri, since swarms of them frequently 
ascend the Ohio River for some distance. 
Illinois and Indiana are also more or less invaded; in the former, it is the region 
bordering upon the Mississippi and Wabash rivers; in the latter, that on the Ohio 
and Wabash rivers. In 1886 buffalo-gnats appeared in large swarms at De Soto, in 
Jackson County, Il., and along the White River, in Daviess County, Ind. 
In eastern Kansas swarms have repeatedly done great damage. 
LOSSES OCCASIONED. 
The extent of the losses due to this species have already been stated, 
though it is of course impossible to separate the losses due to this 
species from those caused by the turkey-gnat. In a general way the 
latter may be said to be more destructive to poultry, while the attacks 
of this species are more particularly directed against the larger domestic 
animals. 
Domestic animals are attacked in the following order, varying somewhat in dif- 
ferent localities, viz, mules, horses, cattle, sheep, setting turkeys and hens, hogs, 
dogs, and cats. The death rate of mules is highest, both because they seem to be 
more susceptible to the bite, and because they are almost exclusively used in the 
Southern States for farm work. Horses alsosuffer greatly. Cattle, when weakened 
by winter exposure and by scarcity of food, succumb easily to the continued attacks 
of their winged foes. Hogs show at first the effects of the bite but very little; yet 
large numbers die soon after the attack, while others die about six weeks after the 
disappearance of the buffalo-gnats; they usually perish from large ulcerating sores, 
which cause blood poisoning. Many persons claim that the so-called charbon is 
produced by the bites of these gnats, a statement which is, of course, not borne out 
by facts. Sheep, although well protected by their wool, suffer greatly by bites 
upon the unprotected portions of their skins, and injure themselves still more by 
crowding too close to fires, which are built to produce protecting smoke. Many 
sheep crowd so close to the fire as to be burned to death. Setting turkeys and hens 
are frequently forced by the gnats to leave their nests. Young fowls are killed out- 
right. The gnats, in attacking fowls of all kinds, force their way under the wings 
of their victims, where they can not be dislodged. Dogs and cats are also greatly 
tormented, and will not remain outdoors during a buffalo-gnat invasion if they can 
help it. Deer, forgetful of any other threatening danger, are tormented to such a 
degree as to lose all fear, and approach the smoldering fires; in their agony they 
sometimes allow people to rub the gnats from their bodies, and will, in their frantic 
endeavors for relief, even lie down in the glowing embers or hot ashes. 
