120 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science. 
gaye the Mallophaga the rank of a full order. Whether or not they are 
ranked thus makes very little difference, relatively. They are generally 
placed in a position, following the Corrodentia, which seem to be an inter- 
grading group leading up to the Mallophaga. When Kellogg finally did 
his monumental work on the North American Mallophaga (1896-1899) he 
took the old Nitzschian classification and key, tore it down and rebuilt it. 
Subgenera were ranked as genera, and genera became families in the 
present-day key to the Mallophaga. This key is still intact and widely 
used and is the last word on keys. 
The Mallophaga are purely ectoparasites. As such they live on seales 
and feathers of the birds. In the case of the mammal-infesting Mallo- 
phaga, they devour hair and skin or scales of the skin, and to this there are 
very few, if any, exceptions. Kellogg notes one instance, where a louse 
was found attached securely and firmly with its jaws to the skin, evi- 
dently having sucked or deyoured flesh and blood. If such food as blood 
were found among the stomach contents when examined, it may have been 
blood which found its way to the feathers by injury to the host through 
serateching. In that manner, the louse had probably secured the blood. It 
is very rare to find blood among the contents of a louse’s stomach and no 
observers record this, except the one just mentioned. 
Consequently, lice would not be thought to produce any harmful effect 
upon the host. Such is not the case. It is noticed among poultry that the 
presence of lice causes tremendous uneasiness, scratching and disquiet, 
so much so that the effect produces a modification of habits of the host 
and causes a loss in weight. In case of pullets. it causes a loss in egg pro- 
duction. due to irritation and harmful effect upon the general habits of the 
bird. Among the birds the effect is not so noticeable. It is known with 
certainty that birds do not harbor these parasites without some distress. 
They dust themselves thus smothering out the lice. In extreme cases of 
infestation a loss of vitality is occasioned and finally death may ensue. 
Some importance dare be attached to the study of lice, in that they may 
be carriers of certain diseases Common to birds. We know that Pediculus 
vestimenti acts as a carrier of Bacillus typhus, and ticks carry and trans- 
mit cattle fever, fleas carry plague, etc. So it is safe to assume that in 
all probability lice of birds have something to do with the transmission of 
various bird diseases. Such investigations have as yet, not been recorded. 
In collecting lice, one must secure the birds, which may be done either 
by capture of adults or young, or by shooting, but such a procedure may 
be followed only under state permit. Humanitarian methods are strongly 
urged, therefore live birds may be secured and released, after thorough 
examination and removal of its parasites. 
In collecting lice, one must develop patience. Haphazard methods with 
a limited amount of enthusiasm and interest never produce results. At any 
rate, we generally examine the whole body thoroughly. Every inch of the 
body must be serutinized. Feathers, if picked, must be thoroughly gone 
over and sometimes a hand lens is absolutely necessary. Generally the 
unaided vision is sufficient to enable one to find them. <All birds are likely 
to have lice at one time or another. Acting on this assumption we must 
find them. In some cases the birds are so thorough in their dusting that 
