110 
ox. 
r 
of our dairy land is water-meadow, and the valley is literally ‘ a land 
of streams ’ ; and this, I expect, is a barrier to the Warble Flies, for I 
understand that, like the elves and goblins of the highlands of Scotland, 
‘ a running stream they dare na cross.’ ” 
These local circumstances, however (for the most part), can be but 
little altered or modified, excepting by allowing cattle, so far as may 
be, access to pools, or to shelter under trees, or in open sheds. 
But where the simple remedy of squeezing out the maggots, or 
getting rid of them by any other way preferred is carried out, there at 
once is demonstrable benefit to the cattle, and when really carried on 
year after year in a district, it will keep the amount of Warble presence 
(under ordinary circumstances) well down. I use the words “ really ” 
and “ under ordinary circumstances,” because if an application is merely 
smeared about on the hide, without being sure that each Warble hole 
is properly dressed, or again, if infested cattle are introduced, infesta¬ 
tion will not be got under. 
In the district round Tarporley (Bunbury, Cheshire), which I have 
reported since 1886 inclusive,—in which the boys of the Aldersey 
Grammar School, under the encouragement of their much respected 
Head Master, Mr. W. Bailey, have yearly cleared the cattle belonging 
to their fathers or relatives,—the presence of Warble maggots, that is, 
those counted as destroyed in the report sent me on May 21st, was 
827 maggots to 675 head of stock examined. This gives an average 
of 1 maggot and about a quarter to each animal. This is a very 
different state of things to that preceding the beginning of our work, 
when the Warbles were stated to be as plentiful as blackberries; and 
where, in 1885, one boy alone brought in 250 maggots. The return is 
from numbers varying from a few, or from one cow up to herds of 102 
and 119 animals, and the following observation was sent me accom¬ 
panying, by Mr. W. Bailey :— 
“I am sure it will be gratifying to you to learn that there is no 
falling off in interest and perseverance in the work which we have on 
your suggestion taken up. 
“ You will notice that the boys have examined 675 head of stock 
(100 more than last year), and that after a most persistent search they 
have discovered 827 maggots, 250 less than last year, a very decided 
improvement. In cases where the maggots were not ready for squeez¬ 
ing out they were killed, as iu previous years, by applications of the 
smears prepared by Messrs. McDougall Brothers, and Jeyes’ Sanitary 
Compounds Company, Limited. 
“ Our experience of past years is confirmed again, namely, that the 
cattle which have been carefully dressed in one year are free from attack 
in the next year, and that the pests are found in newly bought 
stock where no care has been exercised, and in the young cattle 
