THE SHEEP-TICK. 



233 



which is therefore termed pupiparous ; it does not, therefore, in- 

 crease very fast, and is easily kept under. It is too well known 

 to need minute description, its dark 

 red, tough, leathery-skinned body be- 

 ing a most conspicuous object, when 

 the wool of almost any sheep in the 

 co an try is examined. The pupa and 

 mature sheep-tick, greatly magnified, 

 are shown at figure 91. 

 The Sheep-louse (Trichodectes 

 ovis), is known as the red 

 sheep-louse. Its head is of a 

 red color, and the body pale 

 yellow, marked with dark 



bands. It is found on the side 



SHEEP LOUSE. 



Fig. 91. SHEEP-TICK AND PUPA. 



of the neck of the sheep, and the inner parts of the thighs and 

 arms. It causes much irritation, by which the sheep is impelled 

 to thrust its head between the bars of gates or 

 fences, or to kick and stamp with its legs. Oc- 

 casionally sheep are found strangled by becoming 

 fixed in their attempts to rub their necks, or with 

 their legs broken in attempts to rub them upon rails. 

 Lice are rarely found on the yolky wooled sheep, but 

 on the drier fleeced breeds they often cause much 

 unsuspected mischief. Those sheep which are regu- 

 92- larly dipped, are also free from this pest. To rub 

 parts men tioned with the following preparations 

 is generally an easy remedy. 



Lard ............................................ 1 pound. 



Flowers of Sulphur ............................... 2 ounces. 



Creasote ......................................... 20 drops. 



one pint of sweet oil may be substituted for the lard. This louse 

 is small, and the illustration, figure 92, is of one highly magnified. 

 The Sheep Gad Fly ((Estrus oms). T^his is a most troublesome 

 pest, causing much discomfort to the sheep. It is a fly with two 

 wings spreading over one inch, and a stout body over half an inch 

 in length. In the summer months they disturb the sheep in the 

 pastures by the efforts they make to deposit their eggs upon the 

 animal's nostrils. When they succeed in their efforts, the sheep 

 often becomes half frantic, and races violently over the pasture, 

 sometimes seriously injuring itself by becoming overheated. 

 Where the fly abounds, the sheep crowd together and stop feed- 

 ing, holding their noses to the ground, and stamping with their 



