108 FEATHER OR HAIR-LICE. 



G. FEATHER OR HAIR-LICE. 



{Mallophaga). 



These insects have been shifted about in classification 

 from one place to another. At one time they were asso- 

 ciated with true lice; later they w^ere considered members of 

 the orders of Orilioptera and Neurojyfera^ or allied to the 

 white-ants, book-lice and similiar insects. At present they 

 have been elevated to the position of forming an independent 

 order, the JfaJlopJiaga. From the above it will be seen that 

 the\' do not merely cause a restless condition to their hosts! 

 Nor is it strange that they are not easily placed in a classifi- 

 cation when we consider that these insects lead a parasitic 

 life, and have their whole organization modified for this pur- 

 pose. 



Feather-lice have an incomplete metamorphosis. They 

 are produced from whitish, elongate-oval eggs, which are 

 fastened with some sticky substance to the bars or vanes of 

 feathers. The eggs are furnished with a circular lid at the 

 larger end, which is pushed off by the hatching young. It 

 seems to require several weeks before such eggs wnll hatch. 

 How many are laid by a female is not known, but not very 

 many, as the eggs are very large for the size of the parent. 

 The ^vriter saw upon several occasions such eggs deposited 

 by lice removed from their host; the former were kept in a warm 

 place about his person, but would not hatch. The A'oung 

 lice are always white, without any markings or chitinous 

 bands. 



The adults possess a small, flat, and very tough body, 

 and there are no traces of wings. The peculiarly shaped 

 horizontal head is very large in proportion, flat and usually 

 sparsely haired. The mouth-parts (fig. 83) are located below 

 the head; the antennte are short, 3,4, or 5 jointed. The very 

 large clypeus forms the principal part of the head, and is 

 prolonged into a more or less colored plate. The simple eyes 

 are located behind the antennte. The biting mouth-parts 

 are difiicult to study. The legs are strong, and the shorter 

 first pair is used to carry food to the mouth. The abdomen 

 is flat, short, oval to long and slender, and difters frequently 

 verv much in the sexes. 



