156 



GENERAL NOTES. 



THE BOT-FLY OF THE OX, OR OX WARBLE. 



In Insect Life, Vol. I, p. 383, we noticed the investigation recently 

 undertaken by the Fanners' Review, of Chicago, of the damage to the 

 cattle iuterests of this country resulting from the attacks of the Bot-fly 

 of the Ox. 



We have had considerable correspondence with the editor, as also 

 with Miss Ormerod, on this subject; aud as preliminary to a statement 

 of our own views in the next number, we give here a summary of the 

 articles mentioned and of the results reached in the several lines of in- 

 vestigation followed out. 



The objects which the Farmers' Review hoped to attain are given in 

 the issue of that journal of July 17, 1889, as follows : 



(1) To impress upon the farmers of the country the seriousness of the loss they are 

 annually suffering as a result of the work of the "grubs" in the backs of their (a) 

 beef stock and (&) dairy cows. 



(2) To arouse them to a recognition of the good policy and actual necessity of fight- 

 ing (a) the Ox Warble-fly aud (&) the grubs produced in cattle from eggs deposited 

 by the fly. 



(3) To show them plainly that the fly and its noxious product may be successfully 

 fought and eventually reduced to perhaps uninjurious numbers. 



(4) To interest all concerned and secure their help in (a) disseminating through- 

 out the country facts going to show how serious is the damage done by these grubs 

 in cattle, and (6) finding a demonstrating medium for the prevention and cure of the 

 trouble. 



' (5) To instigate a national investigation of the matter by the Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



In the introductory articles the life- history of the fly has been out- 

 lined, quoting for this purpose the short account in Packard's Guide to 

 the Study of Insects, and the more important articles on the subject from 

 the various reports of Miss Ormerod, of England, where the attacks of 

 this fly have attracted greater attention than elsewhere, and where much 

 attention has been paid to the means against it. 



A host of letters from farmers and stockmen were published, which, 

 so far as they related to the habits and natural history of the fly, were, 

 as a rule, pretty badly mixed, and added little if anything to that al- 

 ready known. Reports were also received from professors of agriculture, 

 entomologists, and veterinarians, which give, as did also those of farm- 

 ers and stock-raisers, valuable data concerning its abundance in various 

 States, the loss in value to hides, effect on quantity and quality of beef 

 and milk, and also the effect of the attacks on the animals themselves. 



