2 
WARBLE FLY. 
mological Society, wrote that to him “ we are indebted for a history 
of many species of this family which leaves nothing to be desired” ; 
and Prof. Eiley (late Entomologist of the U. S. A. Department of 
Agriculture) remarked,—relatively to information given by him on 
Warble Fly,—“ One of the best accounts appeared nearly one hundred 
years ago in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 1797, 
vol. iii. p. 289, in a paper read by Mr. Bracy Clark entitled ‘ Observa¬ 
tions on the genus CEstrus,’ in which the habits and means against the 
Ox Bot were detailed practically as they are known to-day.” 
This is not to be quite literally taken now, for in recent years infor¬ 
mation has been gained, and advance has been made in kinds of 
applications serviceable for dressings ; but still, Bracy Clark’s obser¬ 
vations—whether known, and acknowledged as his, or not—stand as 
our centre of serviceable knowledge for practical farm use. 
Since his day, as well as before it, much has been given by such 
eminent writers as Latreille, Meigen, Westwood, and others enumerated 
in the list before mentioned, including many papers by Dr. Brauer. 
But these are not easily accessible, and in many cases are simply 
technically entomological, and as it was very desirable to place before 
those practically interested in the subject some amount of information 
in a form easy of access, regarding the history of Ox Warble attack, 
and means found practicable and serviceable for its prevention in 
this country, at the present time, by our own agriculturists and cattle 
owners, I undertook in 1884, whilst Consulting Entomologist of the 
Eoyal Agricultural Society, to endeavour to gain trustworthy informa¬ 
tion on these points. My applications were most courteously and 
widely responded to by leading cattle owners, farmers, and also by 
heads of hide and tanning firms, and cattle and butchers’ associations, 
and for special points of investigation I was greatly helped by co¬ 
operation of some of our leading veterinary surgeons. Specimens 
were forwarded, and arrangements made, enabling me to examine the 
infested hides in fresh state, and, when necessary, the newly flayed 
carcase,—in fact, nothing was left undone to forward the research. I 
invariably met with the most cordial co-operation, and the results of 
the year’s investigations were published yearly, each item of informa¬ 
tion being carefully acknowledged to its sender, and a copy of the 
report sent to each contributor, so as to give opportunity of correction 
of any error in statement. 
So the work, our joint national work, has continued, and its 
published results have spread over a large part of the world. It has 
long been well known in various of our colonies, and in the United 
States of America ; it has been translated for Continental use ; and at 
home about 150,000 leaflets—some on Warble attack, some on Licked 
Beef, one of the results of Warble attack,—have been circulated, 
