41 
length, of an elongated form, having a pale, yellowish white color, and 
with a black margin around the body. The abdomen is long, and all 
the segments but the last are marked with 
a grayish brown trapezoidal spot on each 
side. : 
According to Denny, ‘their mode of pro- 
gression is rather singular, as well as 
rapid. They slide as it were sideways 
extremely quick from one side of the fiber 
of a feather to the other, and move equally 
well in a forward or retrograde direction, 
which, together with their flat polished 
bodies, renders them extremely difficult to 
catch or hold. I have observed that where 
two or more genera infest one bird, they 
have each their favorite localities; for, 
while the Goniodes stylifer will be found 
on the breast and neck of the bird, the 
Lipeurus polytrapezius will be congregated 
in numbers on the webs and shafts of the 
; : Fic. 28.—Lipeurus polytrapezius. 
primary wing feathers.” (After Piaget.) 
THE VARIABLE CHICKEN-LOUSE. 
(Lipeurus variabilis Nitzsch.) 
This species appears to have been recorded as early as 1668 by Redi, 
later by Frisch, unless these both refer to Menopon pallidum, and to 
have received a brief description by Linneus (Fauna Suecica, No. 
1960) under the name of Pediculus caponis. The name by which it is 
now universally known, however, was given with description by Nitzsch 
in 1818. (Germar’s Mag., 111, 292.) While no very extensive literature 
seems to have accumulated in reference to this particular species, it 
is of course included in the many articles referring to poul- 
try lice in general. It does not seem, however, to be so abun- 
dant as some of the other species infesting the common 
domestic fowl. 
It is about 2 millimetres (one-twelfth of an inch) in length, 
49 the body elongated, of a whitish color, and smooth and shin- 
ing. The margins of the body are black; the head is large, 
rounded on the anterior margin, and the whole appearance 
{sufficiently distinct from any of the species infesting the 
chicken, so that, with the aid of the figure, there can be no 
Fie 9. zi. “difficulty in distinguishing itat a glance. Denny says: **Com- 
peurus varia- MON ON the domestic fowl], preferring the primary and second- 
er Bet ary feathers of the wings, among the webs of which they move 
with great celerity.” 
