Reports to the Board of Agriculture. 131 
Further Information re Warble Flies. 
In answer to the query of a correspondent the following was sent 
to the Board : — 
“ Hypoderma lineata (Villers) has long been known to occur in 
this country, and always seems to occur in collections in excess of 
H. bovis. That II. lineata was probably the commonest Warble Fly 
in this country was pointed out to me some time ago. The hots sent 
me were all examined, and I found them mostly lineata. Again, one 
finds in referring to local lists such as “ The Natural History of 
Hastings and District” II. lineata recorded, not II. bovis. The differences 
between these two species are very slight and would be easily over- 
looked. II. bovis, for instance, was thought to be the common American 
bot until the error was discovered. II. bovis, after all, does not seem 
to occur in North America. It is certainly strange that the closely- 
allied bovis has a different life-history, as it has according to Miss 
Ormerod’s publications. 
“ H. lineata is common in Europe from Norway to Italy and 
the Caucasus as well as in America. 
“ H. bovis has a much wider range, for it also occurs in Asia and 
Africa. Although it does not, it seems, occur in America, yet cattle 
present the same symptoms of fright as in England, lineata being 
their sole enemy. Curtice, Marlatt and others have traced the life- 
history of lineata so clearly we certainly cannot doubt its accuracy. 
It is much more likely that the remarks are wrong over bovis. Riley 
was wrong in regard to the species, for bovis is now thought not to 
occur in America. 
“ The statement that no observations have been made as to the 
fly attacking the legs is wrong, for one has only to turn to one of 
Miss Ormerod’s Reports to see that such is not the case, the following 
observation being recorded : ‘ This one flew at the legs and flanks of 
a young Guernsey bull/ 
“ The dressing of beasts along the back I do not think can do 
very much good, but the smell of the oil might keep the fly off. 
“ I know of no definite observation regarding the eggs of bovis 
being laid on cows’ backs beyond Neumann’s general remarks, and 
he states no one had seen them there. There is no reason why 
cattle should be in more dread of having the eggs laid on their backs 
than on their legs.” 
