CESTODE INFECTION IN CHICKENS 



221 



At the conclusion of the experiment the flies were killed, fixed in 

 corrosive-acetic solution and preserved in 70% alcohol. The chitin 

 covering of the body of the flies was punctured to allow these 

 fluids to penetrate properly. 



Large bottles proved very satisfactory as cages for beetles 

 during the experiments. The" bottles were fitted with glass or 

 metal stoppers provided with pores for the passage of air. Leaves 

 and a small amount of soil were placed in the bottom of the bottle. 

 The beetles were killed and preserved like the flies, but before 

 sectioning the chitin covering was removed by dissection. 



Amount op Infection. The flock of chickens upon which 

 these studies were carried on was so heavily infected with the tape- 

 worm disease during certain seasons that it was rather unusual to 

 find a bird that did not harbor at least a few of the parasites. The 

 investigations extended over a period of two summers. Close ob- 

 servations were made during those seasons, and also at several 

 other times during the year, to secure a record of the amount of 

 infection during other seasons than the summer months. 



The first summer (1912) about fifty chickens were examined 

 for parasites. Eight of these were adults and in no ease was there 

 any nifection. Ten young birds from six weeks to two months old 

 were examined in June, but none of them were infected. The first in- 

 fection of tapeworms for that year was detected on July 25. Between 

 that date and September 9, thirty-two young birds were examined 

 and every one showed some infection. In some it was slight, while 

 'in others it was very heavy. During this same period, between 

 July 25 and September 9, some adult birds were examined but 

 yielded no parasites. 



During the summer of 1913 forty birds were examined between 

 August 10 and September 18, with some infection in every bird. 

 A few of these were adult birds which had only a few parasites. 

 The young birds were more heavily infected, although the number 

 of parasites varied with different birds. In one bird which was ex- 

 amined at the age of seven weeks, twenty-five tapeworms were 

 found. Between June 17 and August 1, eight birds were examined 

 and cestodes were present in every bird with the exception of one 

 adult killed on June 24. 



I have records of infection in the flock for January 1 and 

 April 27, 1913, and for November 20, December 2, and December 

 26, 1913. There are five species of worms infesting the chickens 

 in this place and further details are given in the table. 



