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Mémoires 
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Experimental infection of the Madras 
bazaar fly, Musca nebulo Fabr. with 
Herpetomonas muscæ domesticæ (Burnett) 
By W. S. PATTOX, M. B., I. M. S., 
In several recent papers on insect flagellâtes 1 hâve pointed 
ont that one of the most important problems connected with these 
parasites is to ascertain the exact method by which each partic- 
tilar insect becomes infected, and in more than one instance 
bave described how stich parasitic infections may be acquired: 
tip till the présent however no transmission experiments hâve been 
carried ont. Dtiring the last three and a half vears I hâve beer 
studying the flagellate of the Madras bazaar fly, and assisted by 
Mr. V. GovtXDARAju Mudaliar, Junior Laboratory Assistant, I 
am at présent extending m'v observations bv carrying out careful 
feeding experiments with these flies bred in the laboratorv. As 
the results alreadv obtained are of considérable importance, I pro¬ 
pose in the présent paper giving a short accotint of my obser¬ 
vations. 
'The flv experimented with is the Madras bazaar flv Musca 
nebulo Farr : and l hâve to thank Air. Ai^stex of the British Alti- 
setim for his kindness in identifving it for me. Musca doviestica, 
(stib species deierminata AValk), is aiso fotind in Madras and its 
environs, but is not nearlv ns common as Alusca nebulo Fabr : 
Musca domesiica breeds chieflv in night soil and other refuse, 
whereas M. nebulo prefers to lav its eggs in horse dting, and 
can be bred with great facilite ; for this reason it lias been uti¬ 
lisée! in the experiments. A species, Musca pattoni, Aostex, close- 
Iv allied to Musca domcstica subspecies deierminata Waek., 
is common about the Tnstitute, and breeds in cow dung ; it is not 
infected with a Herpetomonas. M'usca domesiica and Musca ne- 
