THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
428 
From eggs to mature larva 14 days. 
„ larva „ „ pupa 2 ,, 
„ pupa ,, „ imago 16 „ 
Total 32 days. 
I have specimens which took 32 days in passing 
from pupa to imago. 
Operations were commenced in September 1892, 
with specimens sent by Mr. Newman of Cradock, 
pupae in oranges. After rearing out the flies 
I alternated the food ox four successive genera- 
tions between apricots, peaches and pears. 
The fourth brood hatched out February 18., into 
larvae, and fed upon pears which were slightly sliced 
to facilitate breeding, and the stalks placed in 
water so as to give ample chance for maturing. At 
this period it seems to be much hardier and easier 
to rear than in the earlier seasons. Indeed, I 
may say, that each respective brood carries more 
individual strength of vitality as if to guarantee 
an extra numerical potency to cope with the cli- 
matical dangers of a very ticklish period,— pros- 
pective hibernation. — So many succumb to phy- 
ical and other disasters that nature must now 
provide an extra populative production. Of this 
fact there can be no doubt, and by frosts and 
weather changes, the initial appearance is extensi- 
vely regulated. I was constantly informed of 
this prophecy last season that we should not have 
an early appearnce of the pest owing to late frosts 
and the statement was fully borne out by subse- 
quent proof. Equally certain is it that only in 
the high and cold districts of the Colony where 
fruit cannot be obtained year by year, is there an 
absolute exemption from maggot. A regular sup- 
ply of food is vital. 
“First instalment of apricots not infected, but 
later ones certainly are. Every late peach is mag- 
gotted.” — Dr. Eiim Key. 
“It is curious that some seasons are much worse 
than others, and no doubt the winter and spring- 
are in same way the cause, but how I have not 
been able to ascertain.” — J. R. Sim. 
“I can assure you that we shall have a better 
early season this year because of late frosts last 
year.” — Leslie Uitenhage. 
This opinion was not quite accurate, as I found 
maggots in the early Uitenhage apricots which 
increased numerically in the later fruits. How- 
ever I must concede an opinion slightly antagonis- 
tic to the cold theory. I think that a sudden and 
violent change in the weather is responsible for a 
heavy death-roll. If we place a Ceratitis fly in a 
muslin topped glass tube and deposit it for an 
hour between lumps of ice the fly will after being- 
extracted therefrom and subjected to the heat of 
the sun recover from an apparent trance or numb- 
ness, and appear quite lively but in ten minutes 
it is a corpse. The change is too much and the 
violence of treatment too severe for its system. 
But it can stand the cold, and it is eminently fit- 
ted for hibernation i. e., living through the winter 
in a state of semi- torpidity and abnegation, nei- 
ther sucking the juicy nectar of a tempting- calyx, 
nor pursuing its course of love in sylvan glades. 
( To be continued). 
Hints for Young' Collectors. 
The following extract is from the pen of 
the Rev. Dr. Bayard Klein, 1). Sc., F. L. S. 
It will no doubt be of some assistance to the 
younger readers of the Mediterranean Naturalist. 
I. 
Geology.— Every mine, quarrv, natural or arti- 
ficial section of the ground is worth visiting. There, 
all minerals should be collected, whether crystals, 
pieces of the rocks, pieces of coal, or coal-looking 
substances. Some description of the rocks, of 
mountain, or level ground from which the speci- 
mens were taken should be supplied. 
Fossils. — Many plants, shells, bones of animals, 
Ac., are often discovered in quarries or rocks, when 
observed more attentively. These fossils are 
always of the utmost importance, and as many of 
them as can be conveniently obtained should be 
forwaided. Fossil bones are often to be met with 
in caves, along the banks of rivers, often at a 
considerable height. They should be taken just 
as they are in the clay or sand that contains them, 
and carefully packed in boxes with full indica- 
tions of the locality. The same remarks apply to 
all other fossils. Shells not be rejected because 
of their similarity to others, as it is difficult, 
without great experience, to make sure of their 
identity, and thus some rare and precious speci- 
mens might be rejected and lost. 
