THE BIRD-LICE 



(Order Mallophaga.) 



The very strange parasitic insects which belong to this order 

 are generally known by the name bird-lice. They differ widely 

 from true lice of the order Heteroptera, suborder Anoplura, and 

 in spite of the fact that they 

 are known as bird-lice some 

 of them occur on mammals. 

 From this fact it is evident 

 that the popular name bird- 

 lice is a misnomer, and it 

 will be well to adopt 

 Sharp's suggestion and call 

 the Mallophaga "biting 

 lice" as opposed to the 

 sucking lice of the sub- 

 order Anoplura. 



They are very small 

 and have no wings, and 

 the principal characteristic 

 which distinguishes them 

 from the true lice is that 

 instead of having apparently 

 sucking mouth-parts they 

 have biting mouth-parts. 

 They do not suck the blood 

 as do the true lice, but feed 

 upon the feathers or hair of 

 the birds or mammals upon 

 which they are found. 

 Their metamorphosis is incomplete. The body is very greatly 

 flattened, and generally hard ; the head is large and flat; the anten- 

 nae are short, and three to five jointed; the eyes are simple; the 



347 



Fig. 237. Menopon biseriatum 

 (After Osborn.) 



