ANIMAL PARASITES IN POULTRY. 



597 



said to be due to this acarina. (Megninia asternalis is undoubtedly 

 meant.) 



5. Dermoglyph of the Guinea fowl {Dermoglyphus or 

 Analges minor, var. similis). It was discovered by Norner within 

 the stem of the feathers of the Guinea fowl. This acarina is en- 

 tirely harmless, it does not alter the feathers at all, and is of no 

 scientific interest. 



6. Dermanyssus of birds {Dermanyssus avium). This is an 

 acarian sucker, which lives upon the blood of its host ; it must be 

 classified among the most dangerous ectoparasites. It is especially 

 found upon chickens, pigeons, sometimes upon house birds. As 

 seen above, the dermanyssi attack also the horse, dog, ox, cat, and 

 man. During the day they stay in the cracks of the floor, walls, or 

 cages, and those on the lower surface of the perches. During the 

 night they spread upon the poultry, covering these with their bites 

 and filling themselves with blood. The birds lose flesh ; some, 

 especially young ones, die from exhaustion. 



We also find quite frequently the dermanyssi in the nasal cavi- 

 ties, where they may determine a catarrh of the mucous membrane, 

 leading sometimes to the death of young birds (Ziirn). They have 

 also been found in the ear passage. 



7. The bordered Argas {Argas marginatus s. reflexus) of 

 the pigeon. It is found particularly in France and Italy. Like 

 the dermanyssi, it is a nocturnal blood-sucking parasite. 



8. Pennivora. These are the Mallophages or Ricinides, which 

 act upon chickens like the trichodectes on mammals. They live 

 exclusively upon feathers and epidermic débris. They are some- 

 times found lodged upon the skin by means of their buccal organs 

 (concerning the different families and species, see Ziirn's work^). 

 When they exist in large numbers they cause nutrition troubles. 

 They develop with extraordinary rapidity upon sick birds. 



9. The Bird Flea (Pulex avium). It is particularly common 

 upon pigeons. 



A great number of drugs may be directed against these parasites. 

 Ziirn combats syringophiles and acari, which affect the feathers, 

 with essence of anise and rosemary (diluted in 20 to 60 parts of 

 water or oil), balsam of Peru and styrax (1 part to 4 parts of 

 alcohol) ; he advises keeping the birds perfectly clean and giving 

 them plenty of sand. Sprinkling with a water solution of cresol, 



1 Ziirn: Die Krankheiten des Hausgeflugels, Weimar, 1852. 



