52 MITE PARASITES. 



roosting birds, where they at once commence their 

 bloodthirsty habits. They have an intense dislike 

 to light and air ; damp, dark, and badly ventilated 

 roosts are where they flourish best. Straw-nests are 

 perfect harbours of refuge for this Acarus ; colonies 

 of them may be found, including the eggs, exuviae, 

 young mites, and adults. Many of the adults may 

 be found coupled together. 



Transmission to Man and other Animals. 



The chief breeding-time seems to be in spring and 

 early summer, when the rate of reproduction is 

 tremendous. Dermanyssus gallincti not only attacks 

 birds, but also man and numerous other animals. 

 This attack, however, is only pro tern. 



Regarding man, there are numerous cases of in- 

 festation, chiefly amongst those who are about poultry- 

 yards and upon persons engaged in plucking birds. 

 The mite does not breed on human beings, not finding 

 sufficiently favourable conditions. It, for the time 

 being, however, causes severe irritation. This can 

 easily be alleviated with any soothing application. 



The horse is most liable to this mite of all animals. 

 So long ago as 1846 the transference of this mite to 

 the horse was known. Nearly all cases where this 

 malady has appeared in horses have been where fowls 

 have been kept in the stables. 



The mites only attack horses at night, as in fowls 

 and pigeons. The first appearance of their presence 

 is a number of small erupted vesicles, which may be 



