LICE. 33 



free from these noxious insects. The writer is also 

 told that finely-powdered gypsum mixed with a 

 small quantity of paraffin or carholic is most success- 

 fully employed, quickly clearing off any lingering 

 pests that the birds cannot reach. 



Regarding the head and neck infestation of chicks, 

 there is nothing like dressing them, once or twice 

 early in the season, with W lute-Precipitate . The yery 

 smallest quantity rubbed upon the skin w T ith a gloved 

 hand will suffice to destroy all the lice, that would 

 eventually stunt the chick's growth. It is well to 

 give the caution that this is a strong irritant poison 

 and needs great care in its use, especially upon 

 very young chicks. 



In the case of brood-hens it can be safely and most 

 beneficially used : a small quantity of the ointment 

 should be well rubbed into the feathers (at their base) 

 around the anus, under the wings, and other places 

 where lice congregate. It is surprising how many 

 failures in hatching can be saved by this simple pre- 

 caution, and by dusting the nesting-boxes with some 

 of the numerous insecticides mentioned. 



Amongst other methods experimented with, upon 

 old birds suffering from ' lousiness/ the following may 

 be worth recording : — Two hens badly infested with 

 Menopons and Lipeuri were dipped in a bath of 

 boiled elder flowers, twigs, and leaves, to the con- 

 coction being added a small quantity of soft soap. 

 In both cases the lice were all destroyed and the 



*J 



plumage not damaged. 



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