EXTERNAL PARASITES 213 
ten to twenty-one days. Fleas are temporary rather than permanent 
parasites, and are nocturnal feeders. During the day they hide in 
various protected places about the poultry house. Sitting hens suffer 
severely from their attacks. 
Combating fleas. Repression of fleas is accomplished by the 
spraying necessary for combating mites. The use of whitewash con- 
taining a small percentage of kerosene oil destroys larve, fills up 
lurking places and drives adults away if it does not kill them. Wood 
shavings is a desirable material for making nests, as it is repellent 
to fleas. Simple construction of interior fixtures to facilitate re- 
moval and cleaning is as necessary in connection with combating 
fleas as in combating mites. 
CHIGOE 
A second true flea, the chigoe, Sarcopsylla gallinacea, causes in- 
jury in quite a different manner. The male penetrates the skin, 
while the female becomes fixed to the skin so it is not detached 
quickly. owls, ducks and various animals are subject to attack. 
The parasite is found in great numbers about the eyes and neck. 
It is widely distributed, having been reported as occurring in Ceylon, 
Florida, South Carolina, Italy, Turkestan and various portions of 
Africa. 
FLIES PARASITIC UPON PIGEONS 
A fly, Ornithomyia avicularia, is parasitic upon a number of wild 
birds and has been reported as occurring on pigeons in France. It 
moves between the feathers and draws blood from the host. Lynchia 
maura is a closely related species parasitic upon pigeons in Sicily 
and Algeria. These flies are especially abundant upon squabs before 
the plumage has developed. Their attacks cause emaciation and 
sometimes also a fatal anemia. Sitting birds are disturbed by 
the parasites and make quick movements which may result in break- 
ing the eggs. Sometimes the birds are so tormented that they 
abandon the dovecote. Sergent reports this fly as the secondary host 
of the blood parasite Hamoproteus danielewskyi. L. capensis has 
been reported as parasitic upon pigeons in Teneriff. 
BED BUGS 
The common bed bug Cvmex (Acanthia) lectularia occasionally in- 
fests fowls and pigeons at night for the purpose of sucking blood. 
During the daytime they inhabit cracks and sheltered places about 
the poultry house. 
