The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



like Barbs, Almond Tumblers, Owls, Turbits, and Ori- 

 ental Frills are more apt to suffer from their attacks 

 than long-billed birds. Should they make their appear- 

 ance among well-kept birds, they soon make it evident 

 by their restlessness and their constantly seeking for 

 the intruders among their feathers. The louse is about 

 the size of an ordinary pin's-head, and is of a yellowish 

 gray color, is very active, and where few in number are 

 hard to detect, as they run rapidly from place to place. 

 Their favorite location, however, is about the base of 

 the neck, and among the feathers at the vent of the 

 pigeon. If their presence is suspected, here is the place 

 to look for them. A little camphorated nil applied 

 around the vent and a plentiful dusting of Persian in- 

 sect-powder along the sides at the root of the tail and at 

 the base of the neck will relieve the infested bird. It 

 will also be well to examine these localities for "nits" 

 or eggs, and when found, pluck the feathers out and 

 burn them. An occasional future examination will be a 

 safeguard against their attacks. Should it be found 

 at any time that the old birds are being annoyed by 

 them, carefully examine the young squabs in the nest, 

 for they are liable to suffer more from their attacks than 

 the old ones. If found, apply the same treatment to 

 them as -to the old, and never leave one of the pests 

 alive that can be hunted out. In applying the powder 

 and oil, it will be well to hold the sufferers over a white 

 cloth or paper, so that when the lice leave the pigeon 

 they can be destroyed, otherwise some may escape, only 

 to bred and become again a pest. A little naphtha in 

 place of the camphorated oil can be used ; it evaporates 

 quickly but is death to insects. 



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