98 
WARBLE FLY. 
and finished on October 4tli, viz., thirty-four weeks, or two weeks 
longer than last year ; and it was also considered that the proportion 
of warbled hides to sound was greater in that year (1884) than in the 
last season (1885). The attack on the heavier classes also stopped in 
the same ratio then as last year. 
To give some idea of the amount of loss represented, it may be 
noted that a deduction of f per lb. on a hide of 95 lbs. weight means a 
loss of 6s. 3d. on the hide, and this is simply waste money; it does 
not represent profitable outlay of any sort, merely shows a loss on 
the health of the beast beforehand, and loss and inconvenience to the 
buyers and users of the leather afterwards. 
Careful study of the detailed tables is well worth while for those 
practically interested. They show the different time over which 
attack extends from the 14tli of February, and that it certainly cannot 
be considered as stopping in July. We find it in the three lighter 
classes of hides as still present on the 19tli of September, but it is 
worth some notice that three heavy classes did not contain warbled 
hides at a much earlier date. The heaviest ox-hides, 95 lbs. and 
upwards, were free after the 30th of May, and the two others of these 
heavy classes were free (save two hides in one class and one in the 
other) respectively after the 27th of June and the 18th of July. 
It may also be seen that sometimes at what may be called the 
height of the warbled season, the number of warbled hides exceeds 
that of the sound in some of the classes. On the 25th of April entries 
occur amongst the “65 to 74 lbs.” and the “55 lbs. and under” hides 
respectively of sales of 42 warbled to 38 sound, and 25 warbled to 
9 sound. 
Part II. —Observations on the development of the Ox Warble 
and Warble-maggot. 
The following notes are a digest of observations taken by myself 
from examination of pieces of hide so freshly removed from the cattle 
as to give the opportunity of watching the habits of the maggots 
whilst still either in their natural surroundings, or in live and healthy 
state, and are reprinted by permission from the original paper 
published in the ‘ Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society,’ vol. xxi., 
part ii., 1885. The figures 1 to 15 were drawn (for accompanying 
illustration) from life or from dissections made by myself:—* 
“ The following observations on the Ox Warble-maggot are an 
* I have to express my thanks to various correspondents for specimens kindly 
sent me, but especially to Messrs. Hatton, of Hereford, and Mr. J. Dalton, of 
Wigton, for pieces cut from fresh hides ; and to Mr. Bazeley (butcher), Spring 
Grove, near Isleworth, for accommodation in examining infested hide immediately 
after removal from the animal. 
