Syritta, St. Farg.
S. pipiens, Linn.—A long, thin, black Fly, with yellow rings
ronnd the body, somewhat like a miniature wasp; occurs very
plentifully in the Island, and, during the day-time, may he seen
hovering around garden plants, especially fennel bushes, both on the
high and the low lands.
S. spiniferella, Thoms.
Fam. (Estrida.
Gasterophilus, Leach.
G. equi, Linn.—The common Bott-fly, best known in the
Island as the Horse or the Donkey-fly. I t is not very abundant,
but most annoying to both horses and donkeys, which become
almost frantic when one of them is near. The latter animal, in its
endeavours to escape from one of these insects, has been known
to fall over a precipice and break its neck. Horses become
almost unmanageable when attacked, or even long before, as they
seem instinctively to know when a bott-fly is near. IJpon one
occasion the horse I was riding jumped about the road in a ridiculous
manner for some minutes before I could detect the immediate
presence of one of these flies. I endeavoured to get away from it
by a smart gallop, but in vain; there it was alongside of us immediately
we stopped. After dismounting, it was near half an hour
before I was able to capture it, which at last I accomplished by a
blow of my riding-whip. That identical specimen, though somewhat
mutilated, is the one which has been examined by Mr.
Walker. I never saw a horse more frightened than on this
occasion; it trembled from head to foot, and seemed fully to
understand what had happened when the creature was killed.
Fam. Tachinidce.
Tachina, Fabr.
*T. sp. ?—A medium-sized Fly, somewhat resembling the
common house-fly. Mr. Walker has deferred giving a description
of this insect.
Fam. Muscidm.
Sarcophaga, Meig.
S. hsemorrhoidalis, Fall.—Not unlike the common House-fly,
but having a body striped throughout with black and white.
. Calliphora, Desv.
C. vomitoria, Linn.—The Blue-bottle Fly is very abundant,
and as great a nuisance in houses as it is in other parts of the world.
Musca, Linn.
M. emoda, Walk. var. ?—Somewhat like the common House-fly,
but having a bright green, glossy body. I t is abundant about
stables and dung-beds. M. emoda inhabits Egypt.
M. corvina, Fabr.—Very much resembling the common Housefly,
but smaller.
M. domestica, Linn.—The common House-fly is plentiful
throughout the Island, and almost as numerous and troublesome
in Jamestown, during the summer months, as it is probably in any
part of the world.
Stomoxys, Geoff.
S. calcitrans, Linn.—Somewhat like the House-fly, but having
whitish bands across the body.
Fam. Anthomyida.
Anthomyia, Meig.
A. larda ria, Fabr.—A House-fly, larger in size than the
common one. ;
Fam. Scatop/iayida.
Scatophaga, Meig.
S. stercoraria, Linn.—A yellow Fly, a little larger than the common
house-fly, abundant on the high land. I t lurks about the leaves
of garden plants, occasionally coming into houses in search of its
prey, Musca domestica. I t darts upon its victim, clasping it firmly
in its legs, and a tremendous struggle ensues; both fall to the
ground, spinning round „and round and buzzing loudly; in most