140 



tick is quite sufficient to cause grave symptoms and even death. 

 The younger the animal, the less favourable the prognosis. Most of 

 the cases of tick paralysis in adult cattle, horses and dogs narrated 

 to the author were seen where the animal had been heavily infested 

 with ticks. Animals indigenous to the country appear to be naturally 

 immune, but this fact is not definitely established. Recovery from 

 an attack results in a lasting immunity. 



The symptoms are described and historical notes are given on the 

 disease in Australia, the first record being by Bancroft in 1884. 



Experiments with guinea-pigs and dogs confirm the fact that one 

 species of tick can produce a very fatal affection in animals, the main 

 feature of which is a progressive motor paralysis. This tick has been 

 definitely identified as Ixodes holocychts. There is a period of 5-6 

 days between the attachment of the tick and the appearance of 

 symptoms. 



The question as to whether the condition is due to a living organism 

 or to a toxin is not a simple one. The fact that no paralysis results 

 if ticks be removed before symptoms set in, although they ma}' have 

 been attached for a day or two, can be used as an argument in favour 

 of both hypotheses. 



Bagne [].). Annual Report of the Veterinary Inspector. — Ann. Rcpf. 

 Porto Rico Insular Expt. Sta., 1919-20, Rio Piedras, 1920, 

 pp. 95-101. [Received 21st June 1921.] 



Previous work in connection with cattle tick eradication in Porto 

 Rico has not been very successful. As a result of the action of the 

 Legislature in allocating for this purpose about £3,000 to the Insular 

 Experiment Station, a campaign against ticks has been undertaken. 

 The work was begun in July 1919, when 22 dipping vats were in use 

 on the Island. After seven months the work was turned over to the 

 Bureau of Agriculture, the number of vats having been increased 

 to 43 and 17,409 animals havmg been dipped. 



Austen (E. E.). The Prey of the Yellow Dung-fly, Scaiophaga 

 stercoraria, L. — Ann. Man. Nat. Hist., London, viii, no. 43, 

 July 1921, pp. 118-123. 



With reference to the statement that Scatophaga stercoraria, L., 

 preys on Calliphora [R.A.E., B, ix, 57] , doubt is expressed as to whether 

 this species is really of any importance in the natural control of 

 blow-flies. Statements by numerous authors regarding the prey of 

 5. stercoraria are quoted, showing that the normal food consists of 

 much smaller flies. The occasional attacks on Calliphora by this 

 fly are considered accidental and probably due to abnormal conditions. 



Senevet (G.) . A propos de la Reproduction chez Hyalomma aegyptium , 

 L. — Bidl. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afr. Nord, Algiers, xii, no. 5, 15th 

 May 1921, pp. 104-105. 



In the case of Hyalomma aegyptium, L., Lounsbury recorded a pre- 

 oviposition period of 14 days in February in the southern hemisphere, 

 and Nuttall has given an average of 6-12 days at a temperature of 

 15°-19°C. (59°-68°F.), but he notes a case in which oviposition began 

 only 49 days after the tick had been separated from its host. The 

 author records here a series of seven ticks, the preoviposition periods of 

 which are even longer, the number of days being 4, 125, 149, 150, 153, 



