41 



Tlie worm is known as Syngamous traohealis, is of a 

 reddish color anid the female is about one-half to three- 

 fourths of an inch long, while the male is about one- 

 fifth of an inch long. The male is constantly attached 

 to the female, the funiiel-shapped lower end surround- 

 ing a pore on the side of the female a little less than 

 one-tliird of the distance from its head. On account 

 of this peculiai' uiiion a gape-worm is sometimes de- 

 scribed as a "branch-worm" and on account of its color 

 it is in some places known as the "red-worm." The 

 head is broad and flat and arrangetl for sucking. This 

 di.^c-lilve head is placed against the lining membrane of 

 the wind-pipe at any point between 

 the mouth and the bronchial tubes. ^ 



Sometimes there are as many as 30 

 or 40 worms in a single fowl, but 

 usually not so many. Three or four 

 of thtm suffice to destroy a young 

 chick but a greater number are nec- 

 cssian' to destroy an adult. 



When the worms are coughed out 

 (rther fowls eat them greedily and in 

 this way they become infected in 

 turn, because the mature females 

 are full of eggs. It has been shown 

 by experiment that after birds are 

 fed upon worms containing eggs 

 they may develop gapes within two 

 to three weeks. Another and per- 

 haps the principal way in which the 

 disease is spread is through the 

 agency of earth-wonns. Many of 

 the eggs of the gape-worm when APAiEOFOAPEWoRMe 



