Weihaiwei Aug. 20—In August the horseflies become rather numerous here among the farms where draught animals are working, and on two recent occasions when walking àmong the crops I have been rather badly bitten. This wretched insect (Tabanus) flies silently on to its prey while-it is in motion and, as it generally selects some part of the anatomy where it cannot be seen, it-is able to inflict several nasty bites before it can be destroyed: seeing that it makes its living by drilling holes through the tough hides of horses etc, it is no wonder that it can pierce a light polo shirt and my skin at the same time with lightning rapidity; only this morning I returned with four nasty bites in my back where I could not see them. I am glad to say there is another fly called the Robber fly (one of the Asilide) which lies in wait for the horse-fly and, having grabbed it, perches on a stone and sucks it dry: I have often witnessed this performance here, but find it cold comfort to think that the friendly robber-fly is really feeding from my juices by a second-hand process: another point that annoys me: is that as there are very few horses here, the horse-flies feed mainly on mules and asses....and they include me in the menu. While I was still itching from my last experience I heard the following true story told by a lady doctor: she was lecturing on a certain disease carried by lice, and for purposes of demonstration to the students, she sent out a coolie to find the nearest beggar in order to
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