I 



REINDEER IlSr ALASKA. 61 



improved very greatly in size and condition. The owner stated that 

 lis losses in fawns during the summer had been only six animals. 



Further support can be brought to show that this improvement was 



lot mere accident. Some 200 animals belonging to this herd were 



fiemoved early in the season to another allotment. These were also 



liispected during September, and four fawns and two adults were 



tilled on account of skin troubles (dermatitis). The fawns were 



feund quite free from evidence of tapeworm infection, that is, those 



^■(5rms which are derived from dogs, and no other worms were found 



ai the animals. It is, of course, possible that a few minute worms 



jiiay have been overlooked, but the fact remains that the fawns were 



(lean and healthy in every particular, except for the aforementioned 



jtkin troubles. At the same time, the two older reindeer which were 



•laughtered still harbored a considerable number of parasites. The 



bvious lesson to be derived from this experience is that once reindeer 



re infected with parasites, they are apt to retain soitie species for 



Dng periods and to be capable of passing them on to other animals, 



specially the young, providing they are kept in close contact, or, 



1 other words, close herded for too long periods on the same piece of 



round. 



In the example just cited we have a herd full of parasites. The 



nimals are put on new ground and are kept constantly moving at 



wo-week intervals during the warm months, when parasites are 



LOst readily transferred. The fawns grow up strong and healthy 



ithout parasites, though their mothers are infected. The reason 



)r this healthy condition and freedom from parasites is that the 



orms which leave the mother reindeer in her feces take some days 



> hatch upon the ground and to reach a stage where they are ready 



• infect new hosts. It is hoped that future investigations will yield 



^finite facts as to the exact time required for the various parasites 



» hatch on the ground and become infective for other animals. At 



jjie present time, and until proper open herding methods are used, 



' is recommended that during the warm season, particularly from 



ine to the end of September, the herds be moved at least every 



vo weeks to fresh ground and that the animals be not brought back 



' graze on areas which have been considerably used earlier in the 



ason. Worm larvae are very resistant and will remain on the 



?ound for long periods waiting to attack their hosts. 



WARBLE FLIES (OEDEMA GENA TARANDI). 



The warble fly of reindeer is a beelike insect of yellowish orange 

 loration. The life history will be given only briefly in this bulle- 

 , as it is proposed to publish later a more detailed account of the 

 sect. The fly is on the wing in the latter part of June and has 



