120 Proceedings of l)t(Hana Acadcnnj of Science. 



ii-.wr tlic .Mallophagii the rank of a full order. Wliellier or not they arc 

 ranked thus makes very little diffen^iu c, rclativt'ly. They are generally 

 placed iu a position following the Corrodent ia, which seem to be an inter- 

 grading group leading up to the Mallophaga. When Kellogg finally did 

 his monumental work on the North American Mallophaga (1896-1899) he 

 took the old Nitzschian classification and key, tore it down and rebuilt it. 

 Subgenera were ranked as genera, and genera became families in the 

 present-day key to the Mallophaga. This key is still intact and widely 

 used and is the last word on keys. 



The Mallophaga are purely ectoparasites. As such they live on scales 

 and feathers of the birds. In the case of the mammal-infesting Mallo- 

 phaga, they devour hair and skin or scales of the skin, and to this there are 

 very few, if any, exceptions. Kellogg notes one instance, where a louse 

 was found attached securely and firmly with its jaws to the skin, evi- 

 dently having sucked or devoured flesh and blood. If such food as blood 

 were found among the stomach contents when examined, it may have been 

 blood which found its way to the feathers by injury to the host through 

 scratching. In that manner, the louse had probably secured the blood. It 

 is very rare to tind blood among the contents of a louse's stomach and no 

 observers x'ecord this, except the one just mentioned. 



Consequently, lice would not be thought to produce any harmful effect 

 upon the host. Such is not the case. It is noticed among poultry that the 

 presence of lice causes tremendous uneasiness, scratching and disquiet, 

 so much so that the effect produces a modification of habits of the host 

 and causes a loss in weight. In case of pullets, it causes a loss in egg pro- 

 duction, due to irritation and harmful effect upon the general habits of the 

 bird. Among the birds the effect is not so noticeable. It is known with 

 certainty that birds do not harbor these parasites without some distress. 

 They dust themselves thus smothering out the lice. In extreme cases of 

 infestation a loss of vitality is occasioned and finally death may ensue. 



Some importance dare be attached to the study of lice, in that they may 

 be carriers of certain diseases common to birds. We know that Pediculus 

 vestimenti acts as a carrier of Bacillus typhus, and ticks carry and trans- 

 mit cattle fever, fleas carry plague, etc. So it is safe to assume that in 

 all probability lice of birds have something to do with the transmission of 

 various bird diseases. Such investigations have as yet, not been recorded. 



In collecting lice, one must secure the birds, which may be done either 

 by capture of adults or young, or by shooting, but such a procedure may 

 be followed only under state permit. Humanitarian methods are strongly 

 urged, therefore live birds may be secured and released, after thorough 

 examination and removal of its parasites. 



In collecting lice, one must develop patience. Haphazard methods with 

 a limited amount of enthusiasm and interest never produce results. At any 

 rate, we generally examine the whole body tlioroughly. Every inch of the 

 body must be scrutinized. Feathers, if picked, must be thoroughly gone 

 over and sometimes a hand lens is absolutely necessary. Generally the 

 unaided vision is sutHcient to enable one to find them. All birds are likely 

 to have lice at one time or another. Acting on this assumption we must 

 find them. In some cases the birds are so thorough in their dusting that 



