HIPPOBOSCA OVINA. 3-15 
enough to peaetrate through a horse's 
hide. Another species fastens on dogs, 
for which reason in France it is called 
mouche de chien, or the dog fly. 
Lua/. Is this a very numerous fa- 
mily ? 
Mother, No; only four species have 
been found in England ; one of these is 
called H. ovina, or the sheep tick ; it is re 
markably tenacious of life, and is often 
found alive in wool, long after it has 
been shorn and packed up. Another 
species, H, hirundinis, is chiefly found on 
swallows ; it is smaller than the H. equi- 
na, but produced in the same remarkable 
manner. The eggs are black and highly 
polished, so that they look like little 
balls of jet. 
Lucy, I should like greatly to see 
some of this singular tribe; will you de- 
scribe them exactly to me, mamma ? 
Mother, Antennae filiform — mouth 
furnished with a bivalve, cylindric, and 
obtuse beak — feet terminated with nume- 
a5 
