RESEARCHES IN HELMINTHOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY. 227 



found as subcutaneous parasites in different birds have been de- 

 scribed by Giebel (Zeitschrift gesam. Naturwis., 1861, 438). The 

 bodies in the Little Blue Heron were enclosed in connective tissue 

 on the surface of the portions of muscles and elsewhere. They are 

 white, elliptical, from 1.25 to 1.5 mm. long by 0.375 ni^^^- broad, 

 and are provided with four pairs of short, brown, bristly limbs. In 

 other specimens submitted by Dr. Warren, consisting of the carcass 

 and portions of the flesh of four individuals of the Blue-bird, Sialia 

 sialis, similar egg-like bodies were found. They appeared to be 

 embedded in the flesh among the mu.scular fibers. In the carcass 

 they were scattered, especially on the back of the trunk, the neck, 

 and the outside of the upper part of the thighs. They are white, 

 elongated elliptical bodies from i to 2 mm. long, but without any 

 external appendages. No distinct internal structure was observed. 

 Though resembling to the naked eye the Hypoderas Mites, they are 

 probably of a different nature, and perhaps may be psorosperms. 



[September, 1890. No. 590. See Bibliography.] 



Remarks on Ticks. — Prof. Leidy remarked that in his visit to 

 Beach Haven, N. J., to spend the summer, he found the mosquito 

 less numerous than usual, but in the earlier part of the season the 

 Tick more frequent. One day in June, after passing for a few 

 yards among some Myrica bushes, he picked eight of them from his 

 clothes. They were repeatedly taken from a pet dog, but usually 

 escaped notice until more or less filled with blood. Three in 

 succession were unnoticed until fully distended and voluntarily 

 detached themselves. One of these was weighed and found to be 

 twelve grains. It was also found that it required nine unfed ticks 

 to weigh one grain, so that the fed ones increased to more than one 

 hundred times their weight and bulk. Curious to learn something 

 of the life of the Tick, the three specimens were placed in a box in 

 the beginning of July, in some moist sand and moss. They sought 

 a slight hollow in the sand, from which they afterward did not 

 move. After a week they began laying eggs, and this went on for 

 a couple of weeks, until each Tick had extruded a mass nearly as 

 large as itself. The eggs were laid in advance of the position of 

 the body, discharged from between the anterior two pair of legs, the 

 Ticks remaining constantly in contact with them. The eggs were 

 oval, brown, and shining and measured 0.5 mm. long. The parents 

 became much contracted and shriveled and all died from the i6th 

 to the iSth of August, about the time the eggs began to hatch. 

 This continued for about a week, until all were hatched. 



