108 FEATHER OR HAIR-LICE. 
G. FEATHER OR HAIR-LICE, 
(Mallophaga). 
These insects have been shifted about in classification 
from one place to another. At one time they were asso- 
ciated with true lice; later they were considered members of 
the orders of Orthoptera and Neuroptera, or allied to the 
white-ants, book-lice and similiar insects. At present they 
have been elevated to the position of forming an independent 
order, the Mallophaga. From the above it will be seen that 
they do not merely cause a restless condition to their hosts! 
Nor is it strange that they are not easily placed in a classifi- 
cation when we consider that these insects lead a parasitic 
life, and have their whole organization modified for this pur- 
pose. 
Feather-lice have an incomplete metamorphosis. They 
are produced from whitish, elongate-oval eggs, which are 
fastened with some sticky substance to the bars or vanes of 
feathers. The eggs are furnished with a circular lid at the 
larger end, which is pushed off by the hatching young. It 
seems to require several weeks before such eggs will hatch. 
How many are laid by a female is not known, but not very 
many, as the eggs are very large for the size of the parent. 
The writer saw upon several occasions such eggs deposited 
by lice removed from their host; the former were kept ina warm 
place about his person, but would not hatch. The young 
lice are always white, without any markings or chitinous 
bands. 
The adults possess a small, flat, and very tough body, 
and there are no traces of wings. The peculiarly shaped 
horizontal head is very large in proportion, flat and usually 
sparsely haired. The mouth-parts(fig. 83)are located below 
the head; the antennz are short, 3,4,or 5 jointed. The very 
large clypeus forms the principal part of the head, and is 
prolonged into a more or less colored plate. The simple eyes. 
are located behind the antenne. The biting mouth-parts. 
are dificult to study. The legs are strong, and the shorter 
first pair is used to carry food to the mouth. The abdomen 
is flat, short, oval to long and slender, and differs frequently 
very much in the sexes. 
