MITES. 59 



Presence of the Harvest Bug in Fowls. 



Of more importance is the Harvest Bug (Leptus 

 autumnaUs}, which affects Poultry in a similar way 

 to human beings. This larval form of Trombidium 

 holosericeum attacks late-hatched chicks, and accord- 

 ing to Bailliet is somewhat common, both on fowls 

 and chickens. 



The parasites fix themselves to the skin close 

 to the feather bases, and produce such intense irrita- 

 tion that they give rise to epileptiform affections 

 which speedily end in death — sometimes, according to 

 Railliet and other authorities, causing great mortality. 



Whether this attack occurs in England I am not 

 aware. In any case it cannot be advisable to put, 

 as is now often recommended, poultry on the barley 

 stubbles where this pest, as we often know to our 

 cost, abounds. 



Should they be present, it is said that flowers of sul- 

 phur dusted amongst the feathers leads to good results. 



Other Mites recorded upon the Fowl. 



The following have also been recorded on Poultry: — 



Mauritius Argas {Argas mauritianns,Guer.) , a great 

 torment and source of loss to poultry in the Island 

 of Mauritius. 



Picobia btpectinatus, Heller, in quills of poultry 

 and pigeons' feathers at Kiel. 



Leiognathus bursa, Berlese, and Tydeus molestus, 

 Moniez, are also mentioned in Hassall's ' Check-list 

 of the Animal Parasites of Chicken ' (U.S.A. Dept. 

 of Agric). 



