64 
Diptera —to which the bot-flies belong, but to a different and very- 
singular family, which entomologists have named Hippoboscidce. 
These insects are distinguished by their flattened and somewhat horny 
bodies, the horizontal, flattened head, which is received into the front 
part of the thorax, and the rudimentary antennae. Some of them pos¬ 
sess wings, but others have these members aborted, or are entirely 
without them, as in the case of the sheep-tick. The front part of the 
body of this species is unusually small; the head is somewhat wider • 
than the thorax, which is very narrow; the mouth, or proboscis, is as 
long as the head; the limbs are short and thick, and the abdomen, 
‘‘'which is broad and hairy, is not divided into rings, as that of flies 
usually is.” It is of a pale, reddish color; the abdomen is lighter, 
with an irregular white line along each side, and a red Spot on the 
back. * 
The mode of reproduction in these flies is very singular and unu¬ 
sual. They produce neither eggs nor larvae; the egg-duct or tube has 
an enlargement which produces a milk-like secretion for the nourish¬ 
ment of the larva, or young maggot; the egg—for they usually give 
birth to but one or two young—passes from the ovairy to this en¬ 
largement, and hatches into a * larva, which is nourished here, during 
this stage of its existence, upon the milk-like fluid before alluded to, 
until it passes into the pupa or chrysalis state, at which time it leaves 
the body of the parent. Instead, therefore of producing eggs or larvae, 
they produce pupae. Therefore, strange as it may seem, we see in 
this very low type of animal life a somewhat close imitation of the 
method of reproduction observed in the higher animals. 
The remedies for this pest may be placed under two heads, as follows: 
1st. A change of situation similar to that recommended in the case 
of the bot-fly. 
2d. Measures for removing the ticks. 
So far as the latter are concerned, I suppose the wool-growers present 
are doubtless familiar with the remedies suggested by Randall, Youatt, 
Clark, and other writers, which consist in dipping in de'coctions of 
tobacco, arsenical solutions, applications of mercurial ointment, etc. 
To these I have nothing to add, as these, if properly followed, will 
suffice to eradicate them. As the only cure after they are on the 
sheep consists in eradicating the insects, this must be left to the in¬ 
genuity and practical knowledge of the shepherd. I have seen it stated 
somewhere that kerosene may be used with success, but I am not suffi¬ 
ciently acquainted with sheep to tell to what extent such remedies 
may be applied with safety. 
THE SCAB MITE. (Peoroptes equt. Gerv.) 
These little parasites, as the reader will learn from the introductory 
part of this chapter, are not true insects, but belong to the Arachnida 
or spider class and order Acarina , which contains the mites. 
