96 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



fornia, by Mr. Albert Koebele ; two females collected by the latter in 

 Los Angeles County, California, one in July the other in August. 



This species is peculiar chiefly through the shape of the wings, and 

 through the very slender abdomen. Luteous is the prevailing colour in 

 the males, fuscous in the females. The male appendages are very 

 similar, in size and shape, to those of B. longipalpis. 



CONCERNING TICKS. 



BY REV. W. J. HOLLAND, PH. D., LL. D., CHANCELLOR OF THE WESTERN 



UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



The other day a distinguished artist friend of mine called upon me 

 with a small bottle containing some whiskey, which by its odour I judged 

 was good, when he first took it from his flask, and in it was what he de- 

 nominated a " bug." He told me that he had experienced " one of the 

 most wonderful adventures of his life " in connection with the specimen 

 he put before me, and went on to tell me that during the past summer, 

 while sketching in the mountains, he had discovered one evening, when 

 undressing, a small, dark swelling on his breast. He thought it to be a 

 little abnormal growth on the skin and paid no attention to it. From 

 time to time he noticed it afterwards, when retiring, and found to his 

 considerable alarm that it was gradually growing larger, and evil thoughts 

 of cancer, tumors, and what not, began to float through his mind. Finally, 

 after some two weeks had passed, one evening, as he expressed it, "while 

 fooling with the darned thing it came off." He laid it down on the dress- 

 ing-case before him and was presently astounded to see it slowly crawling 

 away from the spot. Then a small bottle was sought out, the whiskey 

 flask was brought into requisition, and the " bug " was safely bottled, to be 

 referred to me for an explanation. This proved not difticult to give. The 

 specimen was a well-developed example of Ixodes albipidus, Packard. 

 We had a hearty laugh together, and my friend assured me that he "would 

 know better the next time, and not let such creatures establish such a 

 lengthy abode upon his person." His adventure recalled to me a letter 

 which I have long had in my possession, intending to publish it, as it is 

 very well written, and adds a touch of humour to the subject. The 

 specimen referred to in the letter is in my collection, and proves to be an 

 example of Ixodes bovis, a very common plague in the south-western part 

 of this country. The writer of the letter, a young friend of mine, says : 



" I had no idea that my bug was of interest to anybody but myself, 

 but I assure you I was glad to let him go. 



