watchedmeatsafe，settlesonourwindowpanesandkeepsupasolemnbuzzing，anxioustobeoffinthesunandripenafreshemissionofgerms。Howdoesshelayhereggs，theoriginoftheloathsomemaggotthatbattenspoisonouslyonourprovisions，whetherofgameorbutcher’smeat？Whatareherstratagemsandhowcanwefoilthem？ThisiswhatIproposetoinvestigate。
Thebluebottlefrequentsourhomesduringautumnandapartofwinter，untilthecoldbecomessevere;butherappearanceinthefieldsdatesbackmuchearlier。OnthefirstfinedayinFebruary，weshallseeherwarmingherself，chillily，againstthesunnywalls。InApril，Inoticeherinconsiderablenumbersonthelaurestinus。Itisherethatsheseemstopair，whilesippingthesugaryexudationsofthesmallwhiteflowers。Thewholeofthesummerseasonisspentoutofdoors，inbriefflightsfromonerefreshmentbartothenext。Whenautumncomes，withitsgame，shemakesherwayintoourhousesandremainsuntilthehardfrosts。
Thissuitsmystay—at—homehabitsandespeciallymylegs，whicharebendingundertheweightofyears。Ineednotrunafterthesubjectsofmypresentstudy;theycallonme。Besides，Ihavevigilantassistants。Thehouseholdknowsofmyplans。Everyonebringsme，inalittlescrewofpaper，thenoisyvisitorjustcapturedagainstthepanes。
ThusdoIfillmyvivarium，whichconsistsofalarge，bell—shapedcageofwiregauze，standinginanearthenwarepanfullofsand。A
mugcontaininghoneyisthediningroomoftheestablishment。Herethecaptivescometorecruitthemselvesintheirhoursofleisure。