60 



When the Locusts have hatched in such large quantities that the force 

 of men at hand is not sufficient to destroy them immediately after hatch- 

 ing, this beating is no longer employed. The Melhafa must then be 

 used. This consists of a cloth 5 by 2 meters, which is set on end per- 

 pendicularly upon the ground, and folded at an obtuse angle ; the Lo- 

 custs are then driven into this cloth, which is then folded over them, 

 when they are crushed, thrown into pits, and covered with quick-lime. 



A last means of defense, the Cypriote machine (of which we have no 

 description) is employed when the two former methods fail. Locusts 

 which escape from this machine have been flying in such compact masses 

 as to obscure the sunlight, generally flying before the wind. 



All able-bodied men of any nationality, from the ages of 18 to 55, 

 have been pressed into service. Even the army of Algeria, including 

 the troops in Alger and Oran, were sent to the hatching points. The 

 Algerians submit to this requisition willingly and without complaint. — 

 C. V. E. 



THE NEW" CATTLE-FLY OR HORN PLY. 



Many notes have appeared in the papers during the last summer and 

 the present summer concerning a new pest which is worrying cattle in 

 Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and northern Vir- 

 ginia. It is a small fly half the size of a house fly, which settles in 

 great numbers around the base of the horns and on other portions of 

 the body where it can not be reached by either the tail or the head of 

 the animal. It sucks a moderate amount of blood, reduces the condi- 

 tion of the cattle, and lessens the yield of milk by from one-third to 

 one-half. It has been named by Dr. Williston Hcematobia comicola. 

 We are investigating its Virginia and Maryland occurrences, and have 

 succeeded in tracing its life history. We find that the fly Jays its eggs, 

 usually at night, in freshly dropped cow dung, and that for the devel- 

 opment from the egg through the maggot stage to the perfect fly a 

 space of only twelve days is necessary. This rapidity of reproduction 

 accounts for the wonderful numbers in which these flies appear, and it 

 follows with reasonable certainty that thoroughly liming the dung in 

 places where the cattle preferably stand at night will kill off many 

 larvse and greatly lessen the numbers of the flies. 



On large stock farms little else can be done, but applications may be 

 made to milch cows and valuable animals which will keep the flies 

 away. The applications may be (1) fish-oil and pine tar with a little 

 sulphur added j (2) tobacco dust, when the skin is not broken ; (3) tal- 

 low and a small amount of carbolic acid. The latter application will 

 also have a healing effect where sores have formed. 



We expect to publish a full and illustrated account of this insect at 

 the close of the season. 



