422 



PARASITES OF POULTRY. 



[March 1896. 



(2.) Lice (Mcdlophaga) (Figs. 3 and 4). — The bird lice belong to 

 the group Mallophaga, quite distinct from human lice (Pedicu- 

 lidcv) and from mammalian lice {Hmmatopiims, &c.), the so- 

 called " ticks." These Mallophaga have not a piercing mouth 



Fig. 3. 



Two Genera of Fowl Lice. 



Fowl louse (Goniocotes hologaster) Fowl louse (Menopon pallidiwn) 

 (greatly enlarged). (greatly enlarged). 



their mouth is simply used for biting. They subsist upon the 

 productions of the skin and fragments of feathers. They cause 

 violent itching, and bite sharply, and must^produce considerable 

 pain when present in large numbers, as is too often the case. 

 The feathers, especially the saddle-hackle, generally show notched 

 edges with lice infestation. Eight distinct species of lice attack 

 fowls. These are described in the Journal of the S.E. Agri- 

 cultural College (No. 3). The presence of these lice {Phthiriases) 

 is generally ascribed to too uniform or insufficient nutrition, or 

 elss to damp, dark, and dirty runs, especially those badly 

 ventilated. Food, either when uniform or insufficient, has no 

 effect upon their presence. Dark, damp places, however, when 

 dirty, are sure to harbour all these pests, especially when badly 

 ventilated. It is also said that breed affects their presence, but 

 observation tends to show that all breeds ai-e more or less sub- 

 jected to infestation. In every case they set up severe irritation 

 and inflammation of the skin and pruritis, which often lead to 

 stunted growth, cachectic conditions, and even death. 



Life-history of Lice. — All the lice breed fairly rapidly. The 

 eggs or nits are laid upon the down feathers, as a rule ; they 

 are often beautifully sculptured objects, oval in form. In about 

 six to ten days they hatch into small, pale, active lice, which at 

 once commence to irritate the birds. They are occasional^ 

 found in the nests. Some species are found copulating in the 

 nests, others always on the birds. They live a considerable 

 time. Menopon pallidium (Fig. 3) has. been kept alive for 



