FEATHER-LICE INFESTING CHICKENS. 



121 



infested fowls with great celerity. But it also leaves its host 

 quite readily, and passes upon the heads and bodies of per- 

 sons holding the same, where 

 it is quite annoying, though, 

 of course, for only a short time, 

 as it either soon leaves or dies. 

 Horses in the vicinity of hen- 

 houses, in which are kept in- 

 fested chickens, soon suffer from 

 the presence of such lice. 



The louse is of a yellowish 

 color, slender, and measures from 

 Ito lV2nim. in length. As the 

 illustration (fig. 97) shows, it 

 is quite distinct in shape from 

 the other feather-lice infesting 

 the same animal. 



Hen-houses once infested 

 have to be thoroughly cleaned, 

 and the remedies given elsev^here must be most thoroughly 

 applied to secure good results. 



As all insects breathe by means of spiracles located in 

 their sides, any kind of oil spread over an insect will kill it 

 by suffocation, because the spiracles become closed. If a lit- 

 tle fat or grease is put under the wings of a hen, close to the 

 body, most lice will be killed; the same result will be reached 

 if a small bit of fat is put upon the head of a young chicken 

 just hatched. But care must be taken not to apply too 

 much fat, as the remedy -would be worse than the evil, by 

 coating the skin of the young chicken, which would result in 

 its speedy death. Pyrethrum is in such a case the only safe 

 remedy. 



Fig. 97. — Biting-louse of the 

 •chicken. Greatly enlarged. Origi- 

 nal. 



FEATHER-LICE OF DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



{Docoj>horus icterodes Nitzsch). 



Species of parasites belonging to this genus possess in 

 front of their feelers a small and moveable tooth-like projec- 

 tion, and are thus easily separated from other feather-lice. 



