THE BIRD-LICE 



(Order Mallophaga.) 



The very strange parasitic insects which belong to this order 

 are generally known by the name bird-lice. They differ widely 

 from true lice of the order Heteroptera, suborder Anoplura, and 

 in spite of the fact that they 

 are known as bird-lice some 

 of them occur on mammals. 

 From this fact it is evident 

 that the popular name bird- 

 lice is a misnomer, and it 

 will be well to adopt 

 Sharp's suggestion and call 

 the Mallophaga "biting 

 lice" as opposed to the 

 sucking lice of the sub- 

 order Anoplura. 



They are very small 

 and have no wings, and 

 the principal characteristic 

 which distinguishes them 

 from the true lice is that 

 instead of having apparently 

 sucking mouth-parts they 

 have biting mouth-parts. 

 They do not suck the blood 

 as do the true lice, but feed 

 upon the feathers or hair of 

 the birds or mammals upon 

 which they are found. 



Fig. 237. — Menopon biseriatum 

 (After Osborn.) 



Their metamorphosis is incomplete. The body is very greatly 

 flattened, and generally hard; the head is large and flat; the anten- 

 nae are short, and three to five jointed; the eyes are simple; the 



347 



