POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



127 



Lipcunis variabilis and Goniodcs dissimilis, is shown in figs. 25 

 and 26 respectively. 



A short account of the mode of hfe ; the conditions which 

 favor their presence; their efifect upon the hirds; and the gen- 

 eralized life history of hen lice are given in Leaflet No. 57 of 

 the English Board of Agriculture, pp. 3 and 4. From this 

 source the following is quoted : 



"These Mallophaga have not a piercing mouth, their mouth is 

 simply used for biting. They subsist upon the productions of 

 the skin and fragments of feathers. They cause violent itching, 

 and bite sharply, and must produce considerable pain w^hen pres- 

 ent in large numbers, as is too often the case. The feathers, 

 especially the saddle hackle, generally show notched edges with 

 lice infestation. Eight distinct species of lice attack fowds. The 

 presence of these lice is generally ascribed to too imiform or 

 insufificient nutrition, or else to damp, dark, and dirty runs, 

 especially those badly ventilated. Food, either when imiform 

 or insufficient, has no eiTcct upon their presence. Dark, damp 

 places, however, when dirty, are sure to harbor all these pests. 

 especially when badly ventilated. It is also said that breed 

 affects their presence, but ob.servation tends to show that all 

 breeds are more or less subjected to infestation. In every case 

 they set up severe irritation and inflaniniation of the skin, which 

 often leads to stunted growth, and even death. Lice and other 

 parasites flourish on imhealthv birds." 



