
Methods 
Tests were made with birds confined in floorless brooder coops having 
inside dimensions of )} feet-9 inches by 9 feet-10 inches. Three hundred 
l2-week-old quail used in the studies were confined separately in groups of 
20 birds (10 male and 10 female}. The following seven insecticides were 
evaluated in the tests: DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ) , CHLORDANE | 
(1, 2 Ss 128, 8 —octochlore — ls 7 =matbane =a, bs 7, 73 — 
tetrahydroindan), TDE or DDD dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane), METHOXYCHLOR 
imethoxydiphenyltrichloroethane), TOXAPHENE (chlorinated camphene), and 
PARATHION (0, O — diethyl O - p — nitrophenylthiophosphate). The first five 
materials mentioned were used in the form of 50 percent wettable powder and 
tested in concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 percent. Food mixtures of 0.05 and 
O.1 percent of toxaphene were made from a 25 percent wettable powder, and 
those including 0.0125 and 0.025 percent of parathion were made from the pure 
chemical which, after being diluted with acetone, was mixed with talc. In 
incorporating weighed amounts of the materials in feed, the toxicant in dust 
form was first thoroughly mixed with a small amount (100-200 grams) of stand- 
ard feed ration. This mixture was then further diluted to the desired per- 
centage concentration by tumbling with sufficient additional feed to provide 
kilogram amounts. | 
Before beginning tests, the birds were examined for general condition 
and segregated into experimental lots during the dates October 18-20. From 
this period until October 30 normal rations of food and water were provided. 
Following this 10-day period of adjustment to new surroundings, the birds 
were weighed and experimental feeding was begun on October 31. Studies with 
parathion and benzene hexachloride were conducted at a later date (experi- 
mental feeding started January 26) but conditions of the experiment were 
essentially identical to those described above. 
Results 
Mortality Rates 
Table 1 summarizes the mortality at the end of 8-day intervals and for 
a test period of over a month. It will be noted that chlordane, toxaphene, 
and DPT all produced a complete kill of quail at the 0.1 percent level of 
medication. At the end of 32 days, a 79 percent mortality was noted for birds 
on the diet including 0.1 percent benzene hexachloride and at 37 days the 
total kill was 95 percent. No losses were experienced among birds on diets 
including TDE, or the methoxy analog of DDT (methoxychlor). At the lower 
dosage of 0.05 percent, the mortality rate at 32 days was as follows: 
Gplordane - 100 percent, toxaphene ~ BF Percent; DDT — 50 percent, and benzene 
hexachloride = no losses. Tests with benzene hexachloride extended for 
several days longer than for other compounds, and two losses (10 percent) 
were recorded on the 37th day. Animals on the TDE diet suffered no losses 
at the 0.05 percent concentration but one bird on the methoxychlor diet 
succumbed early in the test period. Since no losses with this insecticide 
occurred at twice this concentration, and over a longer period of time, it 
must be concluded that this individual was either abnormally susceptible or 
suffered from other deficiencies that contributed to its demise. 
