172 BLACK-FLIES. 
Dr. L. O. Howard, the chief entomologist of the Department 
of Agriculture, to whom the writer applied for specimens, 
writes:—‘‘I have seen specimens in the New York mountains, 
but have always found that reflex action was too strong for 
scientific instinct, and I have unfortunately smacked and 
smashed them instead of putting them in a cyanide bottle 
for preservation; there are no specimens in the national col- 

Fig. 142.—‘‘No-see-um”’ or ‘‘Punkie.’’ Greatly enlarged. Original. 
lection.’’ Prof. Comstock has kindly furnished a slide upon 
which some of these tormenters have been mounted for the 
microscope, and from this slide the above illustration has 
been made. They are of a yellowish color, have transparent 
whitish wings with darker hyaline spots, as shown. Ac- 
cording to Prof. Comstock the larvee of these minute beings 
are found living under the bark of decaying branches, under 
fallen leaves, and in the sap flowing from wounded trees. 
BUFFALO-GNATS, BLACK-FLIES. 
(Simulide.) 
The family of Simulide furnishes a large number of flies 
that attack man and domesticated animals. 
The flies belonging to the genus Simulium possess a heavy 
