24 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



traveller to those parts, I am told, rests himself or his horses under that 

 tree. Elsewhere in the north-west certain other vegetation is avoided by 

 the knowing ones. Away from these plants, one may rest with little risk 

 of attack, but beneath them he will generally soon find things altogether 

 too lively for comfort. I have sought an explanation from travellers, and 

 have this plausible one from a surveyor, who is also an observant natural- 

 ist : The Cameel Doom is the most common tree in those sun-scorched, 

 sandy parts, and offers almost the only available shade to horses and 

 cattle. These animals therefore seek that tree, and there they are fre- 

 quented by the tampan, which, it should be stated, attacks horses and 

 cattle as freely as men. Certain other vegetation may shelter sheep and 

 goats, but these are not found in all localities. My informant had never 

 watched the small stock to notice if the tampan attacked it, having taken 

 this for granted ; but he had observed that it was only in small stock dis- 

 tricts that it was necessary to avoid low bushes which afford shade as well 

 as the higher Cameel Doom. The inference is that there is a triangular 

 association between shade, animals, and the tampan tick. That no tree 

 or plant is necessary for the welfare of the tick is evidenced by the fact 

 that in some parts of the country it takes up its abode in native huts. 

 The thatched roof and basket-work wall of a hut gives them the necessary 

 shelter. On the veldt, they usually appear from the sand. It is motion, 

 not sound or scent, apparently, that attracts them, but this statement 

 requires elaborate experimental confirmation. 



In conclusion of these somewhat disjointed remarks, I trust that they, 

 in conjunction with Dr. Behr's letter, will have influence in arousing more 

 interest in the somewhat neglected subject of insect bites and their effects. 

 There are many lines open for original research, and there is a distinctly 

 economic phase to some. For instance, if it can be demonstrated that 

 fowl ticks, and other poultry parasites that alternate periods of rest away 

 from the host with their gormandizing, may and do communicate dis- 

 eases, as seems likely, an important public service will have been ren- 

 dered. That demonstration would have greater influence with the farmer 

 in inducing him to wage eff"ective war against the vermin than a score of 

 bulletins describing the insects and suggesting remedies. In this Colony 

 we are now striving to prove a connection between our worst sheep and 

 goat disease and ticks ; and if we succeed, as now seems probable, we 

 anticipate an immense " boom " in tick destruction, and consequent 

 improvement in stock of all kinds. 



