The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-09-10
THE HOUSE-FLY.
A Chapter on the History Of This
Adjunct of Culture"
How the Fly Moves. Lives and Obtains Its
Nourishrnent-The Development of
Its Wings-What Becomes OF
the Tormentors In winter
General Points.

Some one has observed how little we
really know about our intimate friends;
even those living under the same roof.
The same remark will in a degree apply
to that ever-present household COM
panion, the heuse-fy. Wherever civil
iization penetrates, there go the honey
bee and the house-fiy, twin adjuncts of
the higher culture. And yet how little
Is known of the life-history of the fly;
where its eggs are placed, where its
young live, upon what they live, how
they become flies, and how long they
remain with us.
Ii we examine one of them, it will be
seen that the fly has six legs, composed
OF number of segments or Joints
freely movable upon each other: the toe
or tarsal joints are five in number. To
the last joint are attached two hooked
claws. and if anyone will examine the
hy's foot with microscope, he will de-
teet between the claws q little cushion
which is deeply cleft into two parts or
flaps. The under sides Of the flaps
nave very numerous peculiar hairs which
are bulbous at the end, and are called
''tenent-hairs. " These hairs are hollow.
and secrete sticky fluid. Each tenent
hair is bent near the end. beyond which
bend. says Tuffen West, s.is an elastic
membranousexp capable of close
contact with highly polished surface.
nom which very minute quantity of a
clear, transparent fluid is emitted when
the fly is actively moving
Mr.. West also adds, that when fiy il
not making use of its cushions, as on a
surface sufficiently rough to afford it
ioot-hold with its claws alone, these only
are made use Of.
As early as 1867 Hooke noticed the
Importance of the grasp gained by the
CLAWS, when drawing against the strong.
Forward. pointing hairs situated on the
oase Oh each tarsal joint. whenever any
projections or a yielding surface are
ahorded by the object on which the fiy
walking. Hooke also believed in the
essence s,i OF a smoky substance on
ms, says West. has been considered
mistake, land yet it is certain that
lAss very frequently undergoes a slow
sscohposltion on its surface in a moist
:asmosphere, from the excess of alkali
y lts composition. Such change is
spseaily produced in glass exposed to
~ action of the weather, as in our
mlnoow.-panes, and conveys the appear
+. aace as II smoky substance were con-
aensed upon it. W
ohaa = nas been proved by most careful
vassa vvosssaFVatlons, which may be readily
:. .s1lhed by any one desirous of getting
= .ne ruth. that this tarnish does very
a.a'erially assist fly when in a weak
ssass ssass ln maintaining its hold, and in
rs,y a,,s moving upon the glass. To keep
gat ga5 windows clear for the admission of
sne' it requires to be constantly re-
4pacians call a similar deposition of
M.saufe the sweating of glass. y
west further describes othe ,av ;.
san. Tnsen the actual movements of the fy's
~. are made. The cushions ara set
rIa uIwn on smooth surface. perpendic-
Ia or horizontal. and the nuraberless
- s'one 8. halrs applied to such surface.
SO shght push forward of these sY,s,.
ssoa $500 ny gentle draw backwards at
49, applcation, removes the. air ha-
ss sen .helr soft. elastic expansions and
ssIl 5I plane of motion, and TINS a f;rz,
n gained Access Of air is pre-