FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 183 



NOTES ON TICKS. 



(Concluded.) 



SO much for the naming. The apparent complete localisation of 

 the Gold Tick in Antigua is a very curious circumstance ; and 

 would seem incredible considering the interchange in cattle which 

 has taken place since the parasite has been known here. For 

 many reasons it is desirable to learn if it has spread to other 

 islands of the group — in particular as bearing on the possible con- 

 nection between it and the Antigua cattle disease. Similar large 

 ticks are well known in Jamaica, the mainland, besides South 

 Africa and different parts of Asia, but they would appear to belong- 

 to different species. While collecting the specimens for Mr. 

 Michael, I instituted a series of experiments on the Gold Tick with 

 a view to determining its fertility, its early life, and what became 

 of it during the winter months. It is a matter of common experi- 

 ence that these ticks cease to be troublesome about September, and 

 reappear in the following May: what becomes of them in the 

 interval.' This is a matter of great importance, when it is con- 

 sidered that any really effective action must be taken before the 

 parasites appear upon the Cattle. 



It is generally acknowledged that ticks in their earlier stages 

 are dwellers on plants. It would appear further from the accounts 

 of explorers, who invariably seem to suffer from their attacks, that 

 great multitudes pass their entire existence in regions where it is 

 next to impossible for them to meet with the animal host which 

 they so readily attack. Sir Joseph Hooker in a well known 

 passage in his Himalayan Journals, writes as follows : — 



" The path was soon obstructed, and we had to tear and cut 

 our way from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, which took two clays very hard 

 work. Ticks swarmed in the small bamboo jungle, and my body 

 was covered with these loathsome insects, which got into my bed 

 and hair, and even attached themselves to my eyelids during the 

 night when the onstant annoyance and irritation completely 

 banished sleep. In the day-time they penetrated my trousers, 

 piercing to my body in many places, so that I repeatedly took off 

 as many as twelve at one time. It is indeed marvellous how so 

 large an insec f can painlessly insert a stout barbed proboscis, which 

 requires great force to extract it, and causes severe smarting in the 

 operation. What the ticks feed upon in these humid forests is a 

 perfect mystery to me, for from 6,000 to 9,000 feet they literally 

 swarmed, where there was neither path nor animal life." 



It should not then be regarded as improbable that the ticks 

 spend their winter months upon the pastures, either in the 

 protective egg-shell or in a semi-dormant youthful condition. To 

 this I shall return directly, indicating that the latter is probably 

 the case. 



