P.S. I can only see the saw and file mark with a good side light, when the claw is examined in natural state, not in balsam.
FIG. 22.—FOOT OF FOREST FLY, _HIPPOBOSCA EQUINA_, SHOWING DOUBLE CLAWS, CENTRAL PROCESS, AND LONG PRICKLY BRISTLE; ALSO PORTION OF SIDE OF CLAW OF _HIPPOBOSCA MACULATA_, SHOWING PARALLEL GROOVES AND SAW-EDGE. ]
1, Leg and base of wing; 2, base of wing; 3, abortive wing; 5, female fly, with base of wings—all much magnified; 4, puparium, much magnified, and line showing natural length.
FIG. 23.—DEER FOREST FLY (FEMALE), _LIPOPTERA CERVI_, VON SIEBOLD AND LOEW. ]
I was very glad to have your note of first capture of _Hippobosca_ (Forest fly) on May 6th. I wonder whether on your Red-Deer (or Roe Deer, if you have them) you find the Deer Forest fly, the _Lipoptena cervi_. I am having a deal of communication about it as having been observed as a very noticeable infestation on Deer in one locality in the North of Scotland. I believe it is troublesome to people moving in the parts it frequents, but the odd thing about it is, that whilst the females are considered (or conjectured, for it is not quite certain) to be always wingless, yet the male flies are developed with wings and drop them, something like ants, on settling on a host animal. It would be very interesting if you found any of these; they come very near the so-called “Sheep tick” in their nature, only neither male nor female of the “Sheep Forest flies” is ever winged. It is also very curious that from some unaccountable confusion the generic name has gone wrong; it seems obvious it should be _Lipoptera_, “without wings,” but—it is supposed by some error in printing—_Lipoptena_, which has no meaning connected with the fly, has got substituted. I think it would be well presently to try to get this put right.
With wings thrown off; also still retaining wings; and wing—all much magnified. Line shows natural length.
FIG. 24.—DEER FOREST FLY (MALE), _LIPOPTENA CERVI_, VON SIEBOLD AND LOEW. ]
Fly, magnified, with line showing natural length; puparium, magnified (showing incrustation), also natural size.
FIG. 25.—SHEEP SPIDER FLY, “KED,” OR “KADE,” _MELOPHAGUS OVINUS_, LINN. ]
I am writing a few lines to mention that Mr. Meade has verified my identification of the New Forest _Tabanidæ_ for me as being all correct, with one exception. He thinks the _glaucopus_ is more like _cognatus_, but Brauer of Vienna says the latter is only probably a variety of the former, so this is no great matter. Mr. Meade is not only an eminently skilled dipterist himself, but he also possesses a collection of the _Tabanidæ_ (our British kinds) named for him by Dr. Brauer, the great continental authority. So now we stand on a very firm footing (thanks to the trouble which you and Mr. Moens were good enough to take in supplying me with fresh specimens) as to the species of these bloodsucking pests which you have in the Forest. Would you tell Mr. Moens about this when you see him, with my compliments and thanks? I think you meet sometimes. I am longing to hear something of the military experiences.