TAPE- WORMS. 147 



off as long as the veldt is green and food abundant. 

 Although the worms may be in great numbers in the 

 birds, they suffer little inconvenience from them, but 

 when the veldt gets dry and food scarce, the bird does 

 not get sufficient sustenance to maintain itself in health 

 and feed the worms at the same time. The worms 

 are located in the small intestine, where they get the 

 advantac^e of consumino; all the best of the food as it 

 leaves the gizzard ; so that unless there is enough to 

 satisfy the worms and also to satisfy the bird, it at once 

 falls off in condition, and loses that most noticeable 

 greenish-yellow tint of the skin that is so indicative of 

 a bird in flourishing condition. This tint of the skin 

 is caused by a thick layer of fat underlying it. The 

 feathers, too, cease to lie level on the bird, lose their 

 fluffiness, and the skin shrinks ; and the time has arrived 

 when the farmer, if he would save himself from loss, 

 must dose his birds. 



The family of tape-worms is represented by many 

 species, and of the best-known vermifuges some are 

 better adapted to one kind than another, whilst some 

 kinds can only be effectually dealt with by a combi- 

 nation of two or more. The best-known tape-worm 

 medicines are extract of male fern, turpentine, decoc- 

 tions of pomegranate-root bark, kausau, pumpkin seeds, 

 areca nut. Formerly steel or tin filings were used ; 

 k2 



