Order M ALLOPHAGA. 



The insects of this order are called biting lice to distinguish them from the 

 parasitic forms of the Hemiptera or sucking lice They occur on warm-blooded 

 animals generally, but have been called bird lice because avian parasites are 

 confined to members of this order. They live among the hair and feathers of 

 their host, feeding upon the body scurf, upon the soft tissues at the base of the 

 feathers and hair, upon dried blood from wounds, and generally upon whatever 

 they can scrape from the surface While they do not actually feed upon the 

 live tissues of the animal or suck blood, they create a more or less continuous 

 irritation and cause a mangy appearance due to loss of hair and feathers In 

 shape they are flattened, with broad obtuse head, short feelers and often bulging 

 eyes. Eggs are attached to the hair or feathers of the host and the young 

 resemble the adults in general appearance ; there being no obvious transfor- 

 mations. 



Remedial measures for birds are, plenty of dust with which they may thor- 

 oughly powder themselves and the free use of crude petroleum in the chicken 

 or other fowl-houses. On the larger animals of the barn-yard, thorough brushing 

 with a stiff brush, which may be dipped occasionally in crude petroleum. The 

 petroleum is better than the kerosene, because it does not take the hair from 

 horses or cows. Dogs and cats are rarely infested and can be easily cleaned 

 with carbolic soap washes or pyrethrum. Where its application is convenient, 

 vaseline can be employed to good advantage. Washing with kerosene emulsion 

 diluted ten times has been found successful in some directions, and, indeed, it is 

 merely a matter of determination and persistence until the pests are thoroughly 

 destroyed. 



Family PHILOPTERIDiE. 



DOCOPHORTJS Nitzsch. 

 D. icterodes Nitzsch. Infests ducks and geese. 



GONIOCOTES Burm. 

 G. hologaster Nitzsch. The smaller of the biting chicken lice. 

 G. abdominalis Piaget. The larger biting Chicken louse : both species are 



common 

 G. compar Nitzsch. A common form on domestic pigeons. 

 G. rectangulatus Nitzsch. A very small species occurring on the Peacock. 

 G. burnettii Pack. Also a chicken louse, though less common. 



GONIODES Nitzsch. 

 G. numidianus Denny. Occurs on the Guinea fowl. 

 G. damicornis Nitzsch. Parasitic on pigeons. 



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