THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 97 



" We sleep on the ground all summer here in New Mexico, with no 

 protection and but little covering. Bugs of all kinds, and even centi- 

 pedes, crawl under and into our beds for shelter. I was on the Rio Gila, 

 near the Arizona line, sleeping on the sand, with a blanket under me and 

 my boots for a pillow, when I absorbed the specimen you have now in 

 your collection. It was probably smaller at that time, as the pain and 

 irritation gradually increased for about two weeks. 



" I was seventy-five miles from a physician, and had no idea of 

 consulting one, until the pain became unbearable. In the meantime, I 

 had used all the common domestic remedies which were at hand, for 

 what I thought was earache. Finally the pain destroyed sleep and an- 

 noyed me constantly during the day, and I was driven against my will to 

 consult a physician. He examined my ear, told me it was much in- 

 flamed, gave me a 'wash,' which I used twice without effect, and I car- 

 ried the thing two weeks longer. The hearing in my right ear was 

 affected from the very first, but during the last week I lost the ability 

 to hear in both ears, and the pain became almost intolerable. I went to 

 Trinidad and consulted a doctor there, who after a very thorough exam- 

 ination told me it was polypus. In his efforts to remove this he dragged 

 out the bug. My hearing was at once restored, but the irritation re- 

 mained for some time. 



" I have heard of two other cases of the same kind, which were re- 

 lieved by the injection of tobacco-juice, in one instance after the man had 

 become frantic with pain. These creatures are often found in the ears 

 of cattle and occasionally of horses. 



" All results flowing from my enforced connection with the bug have 

 disappeared, the inflammation has vanished, my hearing is as good as 

 ever, and when a tick next gets into my ear I will try the tobacco cure at 

 once, notwithstanding Aunt Beck's objection to its use in any form." 



The genus Ixodes is of considerable extent, but, so far as is known 

 to the writer, without taking especial pains to look up the entire litera- 

 ture, has not received revisional treatment during the past forty years. 

 A search of the Entomological Record shows that many species have 

 been described in the time which has elapsed since this valuable publi- 

 cation was commenced, but no student has apparently addressed himself 

 to the task of monographing this genus and its allied genera. A thorough 

 revision of the Ixodid?e is a desideratum, which it is to be hoped some 

 enthusiast may before long undertake to give us, 



