64 SKIN-EATING ITCH-MITES. 



mites, Sara>j)fes ruiitans^ to the second name used above in 

 parenthesis. 



These mites possess a round and very flat body, as can 

 be seen in the illustration (fig. 34), and they are further 

 characterized by the absence of spines on their backs. The 

 average size of a female is 0.314 b\' 0.307 mm.; of a male 

 0.230 by 0.165 mm. The latter differs not alone in being 

 much smaller, but'^also by possessing a different shape. 



The disease can be communicated not alone to other 

 fowls but even to man and to the horse. 



Remedies. — Creolin, which is highly recommended as a 

 remedy against itch-mites and other parasites, w^as tried 

 upon a hen with badly infested legs. The comb and head, 

 from which the feathers were dropping, showed also the 

 presence of mites. The right foot was soaked in a ten per 

 cent solution of creolin, the left was soaked in one of five 

 per cent, while the head and comb was also washed with 

 a solution of the latter strength. On the following day, 

 (March 12th), the treatment was repeated, and again on 

 April 4. At this latter date a very marked improvement had 

 taken place, and the scab and scales so prominent upon the 

 legs before were fast disappearing, and new feathers com- 

 menced to grow upon the naked spots upon the head; the 

 brightly colored comb also showed improved health, being 

 no longer pale and spotted. But little difference could be de- 

 tected between the effects of the two applications of different 

 strengths. 



2. Skill-eating' Itcli-iiiites {J*:xoroj)tes). — Mites be- 

 longing to this genus of itch mites are also ver^' small, and 

 can only be studied by means of a microscope. Their round 

 or oval body carries a short and thick cylindrical head, 

 broader than long, with two claw-like mandibles and two 

 three-jointed feelers. The striated skin carries two long 

 spines and eight stiff hairs starting from round chitinous 

 bands. Beside these the female has stiff hairs upon the back 

 and sides of abdomen, but chiefly two larger and t^vo small- 

 er spines and two cylindrical projections at the posterior 

 end. The male has at the end of the abdomen two clasping 

 organs, each of which bears three spines and a sword-shaped 



