92 BITING FLIES IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA 
distributed. In the forest areas of cool high districts these 
flies are probably to be found throughout the year. The males 
may be obtained in the same way as those of Tabanus but are 
also occasionally to be found in large numbers in swamps or 
grass land near rivers. They are very sluggish insects compared 
with the males of Tabanus, the same applying to the females 
though to a less extent. The flies of this genus are generally 
most noticeable in the mornings and evenings, and are not 
much in evidence at midday except in dull, damp weather. 
The flies of the genus Pangonia frequent forest or at least 
well-wooded areas. They are not, so far as my experience 
goes, very common in British East Africa. They fly with a deep 
humming note, the females usually biting natives on the shins 
or ankles. The males are also sometimes to be seen at flowers. 
The genus Chryso'ps also seems to be confined to wooded 
localities and the rainy season. They are usually only found 
at comparatively low elevations, and seldom in large numbers. 
The Tsetse flies are usually, when present at all, very much 
in evidence, but as explained above they differ a good deal in 
their habits as regards the time of day when they are mainly 
on the wing. 
The flies of the genus Stomoxys occur more or less every- 
where, but are much commoner in the neighbourhood of human 
habitations and domestic animals than in the bush. So far as 
my experience goes they are more abundant at the higher 
elevations than in the low country. They seem to prefer 
domestic animals to man, and are often a serious pest to dogs, 
the ears of which they attack, causing sores which are difficult 
to heal. 
The above does not pretend to be more than a very sketchy 
survey of some of the principal flies likely to be met with. 
To anyone who wishes seriously to take up the important 
subject of biting flies I would recommend Mr. E. E. Austen’s 
recent book ‘ African Blood -sue king Flies,’ which contains some 
fine illustrations of many of the more important of them. 
Tn conclusion I would ask the indulgence of my readers 
in respect of this rather scanty paper, but it has been written 
out in the bush under considerable stress of other work and 
with very little literature at my command. 
