FEATHER-LICE INFESTING PIGEONS. 125 



Fig. 102. — Biting-louse of ducks, etc. Greatly enlarged. Original. 



tion, (fig. 101) which is too dark, shows this peculiar 

 parasite. 



Still another species of Trinotum is found on duck; it is 

 illustrated in fig. 102. 



FEATHER-LICE INFESTING THE PIGEON. 



It seems that pigeons are very prone to being infested by- 

 parasites. There is no doubt that many species of feather- 

 lice occur upon them, and it is not infrequently stated that 

 they can carry bed-bugs from house to house, in fact that 

 they are to blame for the very existence of these nocturnal 

 blood-suckers, which, w^ithout pigeons, would not have in- 

 vaded our dwellings. All such statements do not amount 

 to much, however, as they can not be substantiated by 

 facts. But there is no doubt about feather-lice infesting 

 pigeons, as will be seen by the following descriptions of spe- 

 cies found upon them. 



Goniocofes comjxir Nitzsch. 

 This parasite is quite common upon domesticated pigeons. 

 It possesses a head well-rounded in front, narrow between 

 the feelers, and broadest near the posterior margin. The 



