To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cuina Datty News."
Sir,—I don't know where flies go in the winter time, but according to '"'Everybody's Scrap-book of Curious Facts," a few deft blows on their re-appearance early in the spring may exterminate the species. The following is an extract.
"A fly lays four times during the summer, each time 80 eggs, "Half of these are supposed to be females, so that each of the four broods produces 40; the first eighth, or the 40 females of the first brood, also lay four times in the course of the summer, which makes 12,800 "The first eighth of these, or 1,600 females, lay three times during the summer, making a total of 384,000 "The second eighth twice, or 256,000 "The third and fourth eighth at least once each "The third eighth, or the 40 females of the second' brood, lay three times, the product of which is 9,600 "One sixth of these, or 1,600 females, lay three times, or a number of eggs corresponding to "The second sixth Tay twice, or eggs to the number of 256,00 "The third sixth once, or 128,000 "The third eighth, or the females of the third brood, lay twice, and produce eggs to the number of 6,400 "One fourth of these, 1,600 females, lay twice' more, or eggs numbering 256,000 "The fourth eighth, or 40 females of the fourth brood, lay once and produce eggs numbering 3200 "Half of these, 1,600. females, Tay ones more and hatch flies "Total progeny of a single fly to the number st nine 128,000 in one summer 2,080,320
Such large families are a burden to the community, and should be discouraged. Apparently the remedy is "Kill your flies early."
T am, ete., Shanghai, April 30.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.