248 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mr. Mann thought the division into famiUes a decided advantage, not 

 only from the systematic standpoint, but also from the bibliographical 

 point of view. It much facilitated reference making and indexing and 

 the groups could in all respects be dealt with more satisfactorily. 



The following paper was then read by its author : — 

 LONGEVITY AND VITALITY OF ARGAS AND TROMBIDIUM. 



BY MARY E. MURTFELDT. 



It seems incredible that creatures as highly organized as the ticks 

 and mites should be able to live for months and even years without food, 

 and, in the case of some of the former, are capable of surviving even a 

 prolonged immersion in a somewhat acrid fluid. 



As an illustration of this remarkable vitality I wish to call attention to 

 the case of two species that have come under my observation during the 

 past year. 



About the middle of April last I received from a correspondent a 

 specimen, probably about two-thirds grown, of a species of cattle tick, 

 determined for me by Dr. Riley as Argas reflexus, and supposed by him 

 to be found only, or usually, on pigeons. 



This creature had been inclosed loosely in the folds of the letter of 

 inquiry, and the pressure in the mail bags, or perhaps the postmaster's 

 stamp had completely expressed its sanguinary contents which were 

 smeared over the paper. The tick, however, though almost as flat as a 

 sheet of paper, was very much alive, and, with the intention of making 

 some experiments upon it, it was placed in a small bottle from which 

 alcohol had been hastily rinsed, but which was not thoroughly dried. 



Here it was suffered to remain for a week or ten days without further 

 attention. At the end of this time, happening to think of it, I found it 

 immersed in the moisture which had collected in the tightly closed bottle, 

 which, by the combination of the water and alcohol, had become a fairly 

 strong vinegar. To my surprise upon shaking the tick out upon a blotter 

 I found it apparently none the worse for its acid bath. With a view to 

 test its powers of endurance still further it was then placed in a small, 

 tight tin box in which was a layer of dry sand and a bit of oak leaf. 



Under these conditions it still survives. A fresh bit of vegetation is 

 occasionally introduced into the box, but there is no evidence that the 



