20 Second Report on Economic Zoology. 



Tfroglypliidae sent as Sheep Scab Mites. 



Specimens sent from the County Chemical Laboratory, "Worcester^ 

 supposed to be Scab Mites, had nothing to do with the parasite 

 that causes Sheep Scab {vide p. 17.) 



They were mites of the family Tyroglypliidee,, which occur in all 

 manner of places. A few are found as parasites on man and animals, 

 but they do not cause marked diseases like " Sheep Scab " and the 

 allied " Itch " in human beings. 



The mites that cause Sheep Scab, Sarco'ptidse, present quite a 

 different appearance. 



A true Tick {Dermacentor) and others attacking 

 Poultry. 



The poultryman at the Agricultural College at Wye tells me that 

 a tick which I had received is common in some parts of the 

 country on fowls and turkeys. The specimen sent was immature, 

 and being unknown to me was forwarded to Mr. Wheler for deter- 

 mination. There are no records of any of the Ixodidse living on fowls 

 except species of Argas. Mr. Wlieler, the chief authority on British 

 ticks, sent the following reply : — 



" The tick you send is a fully distended nymph. I am practically 

 sure it is Dcrmaccntor reiicidatus (Fabricius). It is not stated to have- 

 been found on poultry, but chiefly on sheep. At Eevelstoke, however, 

 it has developed into a great pest, affecting the gardens and herbage 

 in March and attacking human beings when gathering flowers. Being 

 immature it is not possible to say the species. It may be another 

 species of Dcrmaccntor. If so it is new to England." 



Several poultry people have talked to me of " Ticks," but when 

 they have been sent they have always proved to be Goniodes or 

 Goniocofcs. The poultryman at the S. E. Agricultural College 

 knows all the lice well, so there must be something in this Tick 

 pest. 



The only known British Tick parasitic on fowls, but chiefly on 

 pigeons, is Argas rcfiexus. Other species are occasionally found on 

 birds, but not habitually. Argas rcflexus is flat, with a wrinkled 

 margin all round the back. It is, however, rare in this country even 

 amongst pigeons. It is frequent in Italy and in some parts of France ; 

 it also occurs rarely in Germany. The Argas in all its stages Hats 

 on blood, the larva^ being fixed for a longer time to their host than 



