1 34 



Buspected of having an influence in the spread of a skin 

 disease of cattle which occurs in thai island. 



FOWL TICKS. Fowls in the WVsi Indies are often attack- 

 ed bv the fowl tiek (Argas miniatus) which though fairly 

 abundant is not familiar to many persons. This is a flattish, 

 mottled, grey ti<-k which hides in crevices under boards and 

 similar situations, coining out to prey upon the fowls at 

 night. 



Control. Fowl houses should be built in such a way as 

 to provide the fewest possible hiding places for the ticks and 

 other pests of fowls. The free use of lime, or of a mixture 

 of lime and sulphur in equal parts, dusted in all cracks and 

 crevices, is a great aid to cleanliness from pests of this kind. 

 The perches on which the fowls roost might be protected by 

 means of a band of tar or other sticky substance, applied 

 near the ends of the perches in such a manner as to prevent 

 the ticks from Graining access to the fowls at night. 



These ticks are able to live for many months without 

 food, and the fact that a fowl house has not been in use for 

 a year, even, will not be a guarantee that it contains no ticks. 



THE SCREW worm (Compsomyia macellaria). Diptera. 



About ten years ago, the screw worm occured in St. 

 Lucia in such numbers as to cause a very considerable loss 

 to owners of stock in that island. 



The insect is a species of the Diptera, the adult being a 

 two- winged hV about the size of the house-fly, or a little 

 larger. In general appearance the screw worm fly resembles 

 both the blue-bottle and the house-fly, the chief distinguish- 

 ing feature being three longitudinal dark marks on the 

 dorsal surface of the thorax. There, are, however, other flies 

 possessing similiar markings, so that for an exact identifica- 

 tion other characters need to be studied. 



The female fly deposits the white, cigar-shaped eggs in 

 any wound or open sore of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and 

 pigs ; and cases are on record where this insect has even 

 attacked man. The eggs are fastened together into bundles 

 by means of a mucilaginous substance secreted by the 

 parent. 



The maggots which hatch from the eggs are white 

 without legs, tapering to a point at the head and ending 

 bluntly behind. The hinder end of the body is provided 

 with breathing pores ; these enable the maggot to breathe, 



