98 INSECTS AFFECTING DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
In Europe it is said to occur in Switzerland, Norway, Crimea, the 
Balkans, the Caucasus, England, Lower and Upper Austria, etc., but 
it has not been noted in Styria or Hungary. In America it is known 
from all parts of the United States, but is especiaily abundant in the 
southern portion and extending north to Illinois, lowa, and Nebraska. 
The amount of terror inspired by the adults is sometimes very great, 
and the following graphic account of its attacks in Texas by a gentle- 
man who has given much time to them will serve to show its manner of 
work and the loss entailed: 
I believe that here the fly invariably deposits its eggs on the hair around the heel, 
although the popular notion is that the fly actually stings the animal. The cattle 
lick themselves, thus conveying the eggs into the mouth, the larve making their 
way in between the walls of the gullet. Here they remain some months, when 
they finally make their way up to the skin along the back, where they bore through, 
Temaining in the hole a little over two months. When they first reach the skin they 
are quite white, but gradually color and become a dark brown or black, and forcing 
themselves out of their sacks fall tothe ground. The skin of the larva becomes dark 
and shell-like, and at the end of about six weeks the perfect fly emerges. 
Although I know that in Pennsylvania the backs of the cattle are often badly 
infested with these larve, showing that the fly is by no means rare, yet I never saw 
that its presence caused any fright or even uneasiness, while here it is so dreaded by 
the cattle as to cause at times heavy loss to stockmen. The time of the fly begin- 
ning and ending its attack is very variable. I have seen cattle running from it as 
early as December, while this year up to date (February 15) I have seen no indica- 
tion of its presence. 
Cattle seem to become absolutely frantic from terror; a steer will be quietly graz- 
ing, when suddenly he will spring forward, head erect, tail arched, and in a moment 
he will be madly rushing across the pasture, probably to the creek, into which he 
will plunge, remaining for hours. If the streams running through the pasture have 
muddy bottoms many weak animals become mired and perish miserably unless dis- 
covered and pulled out. As the fly generally appears toward the close of winter, 
when cattle are often comparatively poor and weak, the loss in this way would be 
very serious but that stockmen have their men ride daily along the banks of any 
boggy streams in order to rescue mired animals. 
When a cowboy finds one unable to get out he uncoils his lariat, deftly thows it 
over the horns, gives a turn or two around the pommel of his saddle, and calling on 
his pony, the animal, unless very badly mired, is soon on the bank and in safety, and 
hereafter often comes the most difficult part of the business—the letting go. In 
getting hold the cowboy has it all his own way, but once the animal is on solid earth 
again it forgets its former peril, remembering only the terrible wrench to head and 
neck, and proceeds to get even with its tormeutor, with the result that the man has 
sometimes to drop his rope and ride off trusting to its becoming loosened and drop- 
ping off. Can any one suggest the reason why the fly has such terrors for a Texas 
cow, whilst in Pennsylvania she cares nothing for it?—(George W. Holstein, in 
Entomological News, Vol. IV, p. 299.) 
LIFE. HISTORY. 
The egg.—The egg, including the pedicel or clasping base, is 1 mm. long and 0.2 
mm. wide at the greatest diameter. In color it is dull yellowish white, and the 
surface is smooth and shining. As may be seen by the illustrations (fig. 43, a, D, ¢, d, 
the egg consists of two distinct parts, viz., the egg proper and the clasping base, which 
firmly secures it to the hair and connects with the egg proper by a thin but rather 
wide pedicel. This base is made up of two lips or valves, which close over the hair 
