THE MITES 119 



indicated by the pruritus which the animal indicates by tossing its head 

 and scratching the ears with the hind feet. If the deeper parts of the 

 ear are examined early in the disease there will be found a yellowish, 

 fetid matter in which many of the mites may be seen with the aid of a 

 hand lens. At the end of a few months the greater part of the inner 

 side of the ear becomes covered with a thick layer of scabs in which the 

 Psoroptes are Uterally swarming. Usually they remain localized to the 

 ear, rarely invading surrounding parts. 



In prolonged cases of auricular scabies rabbits lose their appetites 

 and become emaciated, diarrhea sets in, and the animals finally die in 

 an advanced state of cachexia. 



