R. T. LEWIS ON SOME AUSTRALIAN TICKS, 223 



trouble, inasmuch as the hold of the tick was usually so tenacious 

 that rather than let go it allowed itself to be torn away, leaving 

 its barbed rostrum imbedded in the flesh, and by its presence 

 producing a festering centre which in combination with many 

 others contributed towards the general blood-poisoning. The 

 safer methods of clearing the cattle from ticks by the application 

 of a wash which by obstructing their breathing pores caused 

 them to drop off by themselves to avoid suffocation, was not 

 effective as against the feverish symptoms which supervened in 

 consequence of bites already inflicted. Attention was therefore 

 directed towards the possibilities of counteracting the disease 

 by the injection of some suitable anti-toxin. 



So far as reports to hand go, this process of inoculation has 

 been attended with excellent results. 



It has been part of Mr. Pound's work to spread in all available 

 ways correct information as to the life-history and habits of ticks, 

 the mischief they are capable of doing, and the best methods of 

 dealing with or preventing it, and this has been done both through 

 the press and by means of illustrated lectures. I have here a 

 copy of one of Mr. Pound's diagrams illustrating the life-history 

 of the cattle ticks, cut from the columns of the Queensland Grazier 

 of August 19th, 1898, Avhere it appeared as part of a reprint of 

 an article from his pen appearing some time previously in the 

 official publication The Agricultural Journal, In this article 

 Mr. Pound gives the following account of the life-history and 

 development. 



" Larval ticks are capable of living, in some instances, for 

 a period of over four months Avithout food or moisture, apart 

 from their host. 



" These young ticks attach themselves to their host singly, and 

 not in pairs or clusters. 



" Up till six days their growth is scarcely noticeable, but on 

 the seventh day they undergo a change and throw off their skin, 

 and are then seen with an extra pair of legs. 



"From the seventh to the fourteenth day they grow but very 

 little, and on the latter date they undergo a second change, 

 which determines the sex. If the change should result in a female, 

 she still remains attached in the same place ; but if it should 

 result in a male, he immediately releases his hold and wanders 

 about amongst the hair of the animal until he finds a female, 



