Mites and Lice on Poultry. 



17 



Several kinds of domestic fowls harbor the shaft louse, but it has 

 not been shoA\Ti that they will breed successfully on fowls other than 

 the chicken. It has been found 

 on the guinea fowl and on turkeys 

 and ducks closely associated with \ 



chickens. 



THE WING LOUSE. ^ 



^ 



Fig. 11.— Mass of body louse eggs attached to 

 feather. Greatly enlarged. (Original.) 



This species has been called the 

 ''variable louse," but the varia- 

 tions are not apparent to the ordi- 

 nary observer, and the writers sug- 

 gest "wing louse" as a common 

 name. This is the only species 

 found commonly on the large wing 

 feathers of chickens. It is seen at 

 times also on the neck hackles, 

 tail, and back feathers. 



The wing louse, which is related 

 to the head louse, is dark gray and 

 has an elongate body. It is more 

 slender than the head louse, how- 

 ever, and rather darker in color. Most easily seen on white fowls, it 

 is found in all situations, but especially along the underside of the 

 primary wing feathers. It is a sluggish species 

 and often lies between the barbules of the 

 feathers near the shaft without showing any life. 

 The elongate white eggs are laid between the 

 barbules of the large feathers. 



OTHER LICE OF CHICKE>fS. 



Three other species of lice are foimd more or 

 less commonly on chickens. The species to which 

 the writers have applied the common name of 

 "fluff louse "2 is very small but broad, pale m 

 color, with translucent appearance. It is com- 

 mon on fowls, but seldom abundant, and is of 

 little importance. It is found on the fluff of the 

 feathers on various parts of the bird, but is most 

 abundant where the feathers are fluffiest. Usual- 

 ly it hangs to the loose barbs on these feathers 

 some distance from the shaft and shows little 

 activity. 



The large hen louse ^ is less abundant than the fluff louse. When 

 present, it is easily recognized by its very large size and striking 



Fig. 12.— Shaft louse ( Mcnopon 

 pallidum): Female, top view. 

 Greatly enlarged. (Original.) 



LipeuTus variabilis Nitzsch. 2 Goniocoles hologastcr Nitzsch. ^ Goniocotcs abdominalis Piaget. 



