454 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
and be held over, so to speak, through the barren 
winter months? Or the larva, have they any 
power of secret ivene&s, any dormant stage pre- 
viously hidden, which serves to tide over a period 
of enforced quiescence? The pupae, do they sleep 
the sleep of death in months of desolation ? Perhaps 
the imago has some subtle latent natural gift 
which tides them over the barrier. This is to hi- 
bernate. I do mot mean to say that they remain 
hidden from view and stationary throughout 
the winter month, for proofs are against this 
theory. Specimens which hatched in my cage 
on January 18th were alive right up to April. 
One day I would find three or four solitary 
individuals promenading about. Exposing the 
cage to the sun’s rays, over thirty or forty 
flies would soon come from their hiding-places. 
At the ‘fall of our fruit season in Cradock 
(beginning of March), when only figs were obtain- 
able, and large unmaggoted fruits, I ceased feed- 
ing Ceratitis. It made no difference to the fly’s 
vitality, but hibernation was thus suggested and 
acted upon. Connection was negatived, both male 
and female are extremely tenacious of life, and 
require but little sustaining power. I see no rea^ 
son to disbelieve that in the natural state our fly 
even whilst hibernating, leaves its winter abode 
temporarily, and basks awhile in the sun, retur- 
ning to some secluded spot, again to claim protec- 
tion from the inclemency of weather. My anony- 
mous friend at Graham’s Town says that he has 
seen the flies “at rest” in outhouses during the 
winter months. 
But whilst I can positively prove that the ima- 
gos hibernate, I cannot assert that the purpse do 
not. I have never known them to do so, but I 
cannot suggest any feasible reason or cause why 
they should not. Unfortunately my work on this 
point has been slightly hurried, and I cannot speak 
on hibernation through and through, but later the 
result of ray notes shall be made public. My flies 
are hibernating now, i. e., April, but fitfully, as 
I have explained. 
“I remarked that I thought in warm localities 
they are active all the year : I intended to say that 
when not too cold some flies were to be found at 
any time, especially if there were any ripe fruit 
about, arid it is my impression that a few flies are 
are always on the move so long as there is no 
! actual frost. Proof of this comes in the orange 
affected during winter, and also in the guaves 
which are got from the coast badly affected, at 
the time when frost makes them almost unknown 
here. We do not notice the fly during winter, 
but we should not notice it during summer, 
either, did the larvse not betray their presence. 
But during some winters we have had hard frosts, 
and no ripe fruits on which they can live, for at 
least six months, so it is evident they must be 
able to endure that length of time either as chry- 
salids or as dormant flies, and that it is in the 
former state is, I think, proven by the attacks 
made during winter, being less severe than those 
in summer.” — 
Lest there should be any misunderstanding I 
must explain that my experiment previously de- 
tailed was with a solid block of ice. The insect was 
placed therein (in a glass tube) for one hour, and 
yet on exposure to the sun it rallied. Few living 
objects could stand such immersion, but Ceratitis 
did, and had not the change been too sudden and 
cruel, it would probably have borne the strain upon 
its constitution. Mr. Sim’s remarks qualify my 
Own, and there is no improbability in the idea that 
during hibernation an insect does awaken under 
favourable auspices and anticipate season. And 
thus, once more the peach-maggot or fly is indeed 
a very dangerous customer — wiry, long-lived, alert 
and active, absolutely and emphatically hiberna- 
tive as a pupa. We may take it then also, without 
fear of contradiction, that the maggots get up mal- 
J titudinbus strength with advancing and favourable 
j season, and their preference for various kinds of 
fruit is proved by appearances and personal calcu- 
lation gathered during my short colonial rambles 
this year. I reckon it in order of preference, as 
follows:— 1, peaches; 2, apricots; 3, pears; 4, necta- 
rines; 5, figs; 6, oranges; 7, guavas; 8, apples; — but 
the arrangement may alter according to circum- 
stance and district (1). Lastly, I have to my utter 
astonishment, received specimens from Mr. Row- 
land Cradoch, of a small, poor-looking, black grape 
(named as Stein, var), containing veritable peach 
1 maggots. This fruit was ripe at the end of January. 
I was, however, not successful in rearing the flies, 
(1 ) Mr. Ziervogel , Ciadock , assures me q uinces 
are also liable to attack. 
