Mites Gapes 335 



kept free from the pests, the fowls will not be dis- 

 turbed. Free use of kerosene oil or kerosene emulsion 

 about the nests and perches will usually suffice. 

 Some manufacturers have taken advantage of 

 the habit of these pests and construct perches 

 which will not permit them to pass from the places 

 of concealment about the poultry house to the 

 body of the fowl, each perch being supported by 

 means of slender iron supports, the bases of which 

 are placed in small cups filled with oil. 



A little care and watchfulness on the part of 

 the poultry attendant to keep the poultry-house 

 entirely free from mites will protect the fowls 

 from these pests. 



GAPES 



Gapes sometimes destroy large numbers of 

 small chickens; in fact, on some farms during 

 certain seasons it seems almost impossible to rear 

 broods of young chickens that are entirely free from 

 it, particularly if the young chickens are kept under 

 the ordinary conditions. It is well known, that 

 gapes are caused by a small worm known as Synga- 

 mus trachealis. This worm is of a reddish color 

 and varies in length from three-eighths to three- 

 fourths of an inch. The two sexes are united, 

 which fact has given rise to the name of "branched 

 worm." On account of its color it is also some- 



