90 LIFE HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN TICKS. 
for some time after dropping; capitulum 0.164 mm. long (from tip of 
palpi to base of emargination of scutum); scutum 0.246 mm. long by 
0.305 mm. wide. 
Egg.—The average size for 10 eggs which were measured was 0.493 
by 0.396 mm. Ellipsoidal, dark brown to black in color, shining, 
smooth. 
HOST RELATIONSHIP. 
The hares and rabbits are the principal hosts, especially of the 
adult stage. (Lepus) Sylvilagus palustris is the type host. We have 
collected the tick on about 7 species of rabbits, and have also taken 
the adults on robin, quail, meadowlark, and domestic cat. The im- 
mature stages have been taken in abundance on quail and meadow- 
lark and in fewer numbers on chaparral cock and Brewer’s black- 
bird. Immature stages of what are probably this species were 
taken on the thrush, field lark, jackdaw, blue jay, magpie, and pine 
squirrel. A single nymph was taken on a groove-billed ani at 
Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mex., and a larva, probably of this species, 
was taken on a small sparrow at Monterey, Mex. On rabbits the 
species is nearly always found attached to the ears, either inside 
or out. On birds the ticks are nearly always found upon the head, 
largely upon or about the crest. However, occasionally they attach 
on the neck and about the eyes and ears. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
(Fig. 5.) 
The type locality for this species is North Carolina. The species 
occurs in many States, from Massachusetts to California and Mexico. 
The States from which the species is recorded are Alabama, Arizona, 
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, 
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New 
York, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, 
Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. It has also been taken in 
Mexico. In western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona the species is 
not commonly found, the rabbit Dermacentor being the tick ordina- 
rily met with on rabbits. We have taken it in large numbers from 
rabbits in Montana and neighboring States. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
Observations on the biology of this species have been reported by 
Hunter and Hooker (1907) and by Hooker (1908, 1909). 
The egg (Tables XXIV, XXV).—In one instance oviposition began 
on the third day after dropping. The mean temperature during 
this period beginning June 15, 1909, was 89.5°F. The longest preovi- 
position period observed was 15 days. This record was made on a 
