206 ARACHNIDS, CENTIPEDES, AND MILLIPEDES— ARTHROPODS 



first hatch they will climb on the nearest bush and begin a vigil that ends 

 either in starvation or a full meal from some passing animal. With the 

 slightest rustle of the leaves of surrounding bushes, which might indi- 

 cate the approach of a possible host, the little tick becomes very excited 

 and waves its legs frantically in the air. If a suitable host gets close 



Photo by Winchester 



Fig. 14.6. The king or horseshoe crab. This animal is not a true crab, but an 



arachnid, related to the spiders. 



enough the tick grasps it and crawls around on its skin for awhile, selects 

 a suitable place, pierces the skin and begins sucking. It buries its head 

 in the wound and holds so tightly that it may be pulled in two without 

 releasing its hold. However, it is said that a tick will release its hold 

 rather quickly if touched with the lighted end of a cigarette. After en- 

 gorging itself for several days the young tick will drop ofif on the ground, 



