42 PARASITOLOGY. 



The Pigeon Louse. — Lipeurus Baculus. This 

 is a long, slender, light colored louse with mouth 

 parts arranged for biting, and its legs are provided 

 with booklets which aid it in holding to the feathers. 

 It is illustrated in Fig. 15. 



GoNiocoTES HoLOGASTER. — This is still another 

 louse that sometimes infests chickens. In many 

 respects it resembles the louse of the turkey, but 

 it is a distinct species. It is illustrated in Fig. 14. 

 Like the others, its mouth parts are arranged for 

 biting. 



Life History. — The females are slightly larger than 

 the males. The females lay oval, white, or whitish- 

 yellow eggs (nits) and securely cement them to the 

 barbs of the feathers. This is illustrated in Fig. 12. 

 The lice hatch in from ten days to two weeks in warm 

 weather, by breaking open the ends of the eggs. The 

 young have much the same shape as the adults, but 

 are usually lighter in color. The males are usually 

 less numerous than the females. 



Conditions Produced. — Chicks hatched in the in- 

 cubator are free from lice and stay free until placed 

 with lousy hens or chicks, or in lousy quarters. Lice 

 produce much irritation. The effect of large numbers 

 upon chickens is quite marked. The hens scratch and 

 pick at the feathers, show signs of being drowsy, may 

 refuse to eat, and in growing birds, body development 

 is interfered with. Young chicks often sit around, 

 moping, with wings hanging down, and finally in a 

 week or two may die. For this reason, brooder chicks 

 thrive better, grow faster, and are free from many 

 ailments than chicks hatched by the hen. It has been 

 said that a lousy bird will have more of a tendency to 



