Have you (if I may venture to ask) extended your researches to the Hypoderma (Warble fly), of our British deer? It would be usefully interesting, I think, if we could work this up. I am doing what I can, with help from some of the head-keepers, &c., and when deer-stalking is going on I am promised a warbled red-deer’s hide for examination.
Rather larger than life; line showing natural length.
FIG. 32.—RED-BEARDED BOTFLY, CEPHENOMYIA RUFIBARBIS, MEIG., BRAUER, AND SCHINER.
August 17, 1895.
I had much pleasure in receiving your letter this morning, and only wish I had a duplicate of the Hypoderma bovis (Ox warble fly, fig. [5]), to spare—I would most gladly offer it, but now I have only one. I never had many, and with my best endeavours I cannot get people to rear them. I quite hope to have a hide of a red-deer presently, and I think one might make out the larva of the H. diana (Deer warble fly), at least, by reference to fig. 6, tab. viii.—what do you think?
May I ask you to do me the pleasure of accepting the enclosed copy of the “Œstridæ,” lately come rather curiously to my hands. It was sent through a mistake instead of the separate impression of Dr. Brauer’s “Tabanidæ,” and as I knew how difficult it was to procure (especially with the plates), I kept it, feeling sure it would be useful to some friend. I have a copy which I have worked with for years, so I hope that you will not hesitate to give me the pleasure of making this copy as useful as I am sure it will be in your hands. I wish it were in better order. I see that beneath the frontispiece of this copy is a reference to p. 186 in the “Biologie von Cephenomyia, &c.,” but I suppose my frontispiece is a “proof before letters,” for there is no reference or description. The two are the same edition.
January 9, 1897.
My rufibarbis was sent to me by Mr. Dugald Campbell from Strathconan Forest, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire. I received it on June 8th, then quite fresh—and such a beauty! With its long thick coat it almost might be called furry, and the “glance” on the hairs was lovely. It was rather darker in some parts (that is, ran to rather more foxy red on the centre of the upper fore part of the abdomen), than is noted by some observers, so that it was very richly coloured, and its red beard was very handsome. I have had a figure taken of it, with great care, and if when you see it (for of course I hope you will accept a copy of my next Annual Report, on publication), you think you would like to borrow it any time for one of your papers, I should be only happy to lend it you.
Yours sincerely,
Eleanor A. Ormerod.