40 Observations on Parasites and Parasitic Diseases 



Although ticks are met with upon every variety of domesti- 

 cated animal, as well as upon several wild ones, still the IxodeS' 

 Ricinus, dog-tick, the Ixodes reduvius and the Ixodes plumheiis 

 — sheep and cattle ticks — are best known in this country. 



These parasites exist in most localities, but they especiallj 

 abound in light, sandy, and warm districts, where brushwood, 

 thickets, and plantations prevail. In such situations they remain 

 secure from injury, and comparatively at rest during the intervals 

 which elapse between the times of their obtaining a full supply 

 of blood from the animals they attack. Prompted by hunger^ 

 however, the tick becomes more active, and will then fasten 

 itself upon almost any animal which may come in its way. To' 

 effect this it plunges its rostrum — sucking proboscis — deeply 

 into the skin, and thus fixed it will hang on for dajs together 

 sucking the blood, until its body becomes distended to eight or 

 ten times the original size. When filled to repletion it quits its 

 hold, and again seeks the security of its hiding-places. 



It is by no means an unfi'equent occurrence for horses in such 

 localities, while at exercise at early morn in summer, to be attacked 

 b}' ticks, and consequently to return to the stables with several 

 of the parasites upon their legs. Besides animals ticks will fre- 

 quently attack birds, and they have been also known to occa- 

 sionally fix themselves on man to obtain a supply of blood. It 

 is, however, only in very rare instances, and these chiefly in 

 dogs, that ticks exist in sufficient numbers to give rise to much 

 irritation or suffering. Dogs taken out for sporting will often 

 return with a large number of them fixed to their skin. This is. 

 especially the case with dogs used for rabbit-catching in the 

 autumnal period of the year, more particularly when Avarm weather 

 prevails. Ferrets, also, which are employed to drive the rabbits 

 from their burrows, will be attacked in a similar manner. 

 Rabbits when killed are frequently found to have several of the 

 parasites upon them ; and so also, but more rarely, are hares. Not 

 only is this the case, but weasels and stoats are so generally affected 

 with ticks, most of Avhich are so small and young, that some 

 persons have supposed that the parasites are originally bred upon 

 these and similar wild carnivora by the parent tick depositing its. 

 ova on different parts of their bodies. It is a somewhat singular 

 circumstance that ticks, which do not seem as a rule to show any 

 preference for one part of the body over another, are said to 

 congregate inside the ears and between the toes of weasels and 

 stoats. It is supposed by some that these places are selected 

 by the young ticks, as the animals cannot easily dislodge them 

 from thence ; while by others it is thought that the ova of the parent 

 tick were deposited in these sites. 



A few years since we met with a large number of young^ 



