187 



of ordinary laundry soap has been dissolved ; 1 gal. kerosene oil is 

 then mixed with 1 gal. shghtly sour milk. These two solutions are 

 then mixed and thoroughly agitated, and when cold, 6 oz. oil of 

 citronella are stirred in. This forms a stock solution and is used 

 in spraying in the proportion of 1 part to 2 parts water. The spray 

 should be applied each morning, by means of a hand garden sprayer, 

 and in this way a herd of 30 cows may be treated in less than half 

 an hour. 



Johnston (T. H.) & Bancroft (M. J.). Tick-resistance of Cattle. — 

 Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., Sijdney, xxix, no. 5, 2nd May 1918, pp. 319- 

 320. [Received 29th July 1918.] 



Owing to the fact that for several years past animals resistant to 

 the attacks of the cattle tick, Margaropus (Boophilus) australis, 

 have been found to occur in very many herds in New South Wales, 

 investigations on the tick resistance of cattle are now being conducted. 

 Such resistant individuals, though never dipped, sprayed, or treated 

 in any way, and though running in infested paddocks, remain practi- 

 cally free from ticks ; and the possibility of spreading this peculiarity 

 is the aim of the present investigation. 



Authentic observations are consequently desired from dairy-farmers 

 and cattle-raisers on the following points : — The particular breed 

 of these animals ; the length and texture of the hair ; the colour, 

 texture and oihness of the skin ; the general condition and stamina 

 of the animals ; the length of time they have been resistant, whether 

 from birth, or from a subsequent date of acquisition ; whether this 

 peculiarity has been transmitted to their progeny ; the nature of 

 the country where such animals are running ; the influence (if any) 

 of food ; the effect (if any) of dipping upon such resistant animals ; 

 whether the exudate or so-called serum found on certain tick-resistant 

 cows has ever been noticed on these cattle. 



Teodoro (G.). II Ciclo di Sviluppo dell' akamushi secondo le recenti 

 Ricerche dei Giapponesi Miyajima e Okumura. [The Developmental 

 Cycle of Trombidimn akamushi according to the recent Researches 

 of the Japanese Investigators, Miyashima and Okumura.] — Redia, 

 Florence, xiii, no. 1-2, 23rd July 1918, pp. 105-114. 



Notices have already been given [see this Review, Ser. B, v, p. 160 

 and vi, p. 21] of previous papers by these Japanese authors. In the 

 larval stage Trombidimn akamushi Uves on man, on the field mouse, 

 Microtus montebelli, and on other small mammals, such as the monkey, 

 dog, cat, rabbit and guinea-pig ; unlike many other alhed mites it 

 does not attack insects or spiders. The larva remains on its host for 

 3 or 4 days and migrates underground when engorged. In warm 

 climates metamorphosis takes 5 or 6 days. The nymph is neither a 

 parasite nor a blood-sucker, but feeds on vegetable juices, acid juices 

 being dishked. A certain degree of humidity is essential for develop- 

 ment. The adult does not differ materially from the nymph, but 

 visible sexual characters only appear when full growth and maturity 

 are reached. The adult also feeds on the juices of plants, such as 

 Imperata arundinacea and Artemisia vulgaris. 

 (C505) a2 



