The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



FEATHER-LICE 



These are an entirely different insect from tlie louse 

 just described, being long and thin in form and of a 

 grayish color, the head and neck being slightly darker 

 than the body. As their name intimates, they inhabit 

 the feathers of the pigeon, and are supposed to be rather 

 a benefit than otherwise. As they are seldom seen ex- 

 cept during warm weather they are supposed to devour 

 the fine, fluffy material at the base of the lesser feathers, 

 and thus relieve the pigeon of its super-abundant coat 

 so kindly provided by Nature for its protection through 

 the colder months of the year. As the molting season 

 comes on, they disappear with the falling feathers, and 

 are seldom seen again until summer of next year. They 

 are not much noticed on well, strong pigeons, but on 

 sickly pigeons they show plainly, also when a pigeon 

 dies. The reason of this is probably, as the bodily 

 warmth of the pigeon is gone, they crawl to the outside 

 of the feathers for the purpose of seeking more con- 

 genial quarters. Their motions are very slow and as it 

 takes some time to change their location, they are plainly 

 seen. In a neglected loft they will sometimes become so 

 plentiful as to be an annoyance to the pigeons, especialh- 

 among the crested and hooded varieties. If they seem 

 to be uncomfortable from this cause, a plentiful dusting 

 of Persian insect-powder will reduce them in numbers. 



MITES 



This insect is the worst annoyance in the way of a 

 pest that the pigeon keeper has to contend with. They 

 are about the size and color of a grain of maw or poppy- 

 seed, fhe microscope shows them to be similar to a 

 small crab, and like that shell-fish, they travel sideways. 

 They multiply rapidly, and when they once get the up- 



ISO 



