TICKS. 213 



phagus comprises a single species, M. ovinus, which is desti- 

 tute of wings, and attacks the sheep. It is of a dark reddish 

 colour, with the abdomen whitish. It is commonly called 

 the Sheep Louse, and is so tenacious of life that Kay states 

 that it will exist in a fleece twelve months after it is shorn, 

 its excrements even giving a tinge to the wool, which is very 

 difficult to be discharged."* 



These lice or ticks abound on the ewes in spring, and when 

 shearing time arrives the lambs are tormented by those which 

 pass on to them from their shorn dams. The weaker lambs 

 are most infected, and whatever animal is attacked by these 

 blood-sucking parasites is prevented from thriving by the 

 state of irritation it is kept in. It is to destroy these ticks 

 that lambs are dipped, though, when non-poisonous dips are 

 employed, the ewes should be dipped before they are shorn, 

 and this will tend to preserve the lambs to a greater extent. 

 Mere washing with soap and water is of no use against the 

 ticks, and active agents are needed to destroy the parasites. 



POULTRY LOUSINESS IN THE HORSE. PHTHIRIASIS EQUL 



In 1850 Professor Bouley of Alfort drew attention to a 

 severe skin disease, occurring in horses that are kept where 

 poultry abound. In the Veterinarian for April 1851, 

 M. Bouley's observations are published. Beferring to the 

 disease, he says : 



"Its commencement is instantaneous. All at once the 



horse is seized with a violent continued general itching. So 



sudden and irresistible is the desire the animal possesses to 



1 scratch himself, that he is not easy for a single moment. He 



nibs his skin against every resisting body near him, stamps 



the ground continually, strikes his belly, bites every place 



he can reach with his mouth, manifesting by his continual 



* KNIGHT'S English Cyclopedia. 



