so NOTES ON THK CATTLE TICK. 



Dnrin<>- the past twelve months we have acquired a .^reat 

 deal of knowledge as to the present extent of the distribution of 

 the cattle tick, I have received specimens in various stages of 

 •developement from different parts of the world — namely, the 

 Soiithern States of North America, the West India Islands, 

 Argentina, and Beimos Ayres, in South America ; various States 

 in South Africa, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, the North-west 

 Provinces of India, Ceylon, Java, and Burmah, the south-east 

 islands of British New Guinea, the Northern Territory of South 

 Australia, and Western Australia. The specimens I have 

 received from all these dilterent parts of the word agree in all 

 their anatomical and physiological characters with our orthodox 

 ■Queensland cattle tick. 



CLIMATIC ANB OTHER CONDITIONS FAVOURABLE 

 AND UNFAVOURABLE TO TICK LIFE. 



The experience of the last twenty years in the United States 

 shows that the cattle tick will thrive almost anywhere, from the 

 tropics to those parts of the country where the minimum temper- 

 ature is not below 84deg., and the atmosphere fairly humid, 

 and the smaller vegetation sufficiently plentiful and constant to 

 l^rotect the ova and larvae of the tick from the direct influence of 

 the sun's rays. 



In Queensland the so-called blady grass country is found to 

 be perfectly congenial to the cattle tick ; in fact it might be most 

 appropriately termed the "home of the tick," for the simple 

 reason that it affords the best possible shelter for the ticks ; and, 

 moreover, among the coarse grasses grown in a state of perfection 

 along the banks and on the deltas of our coastal rivers, and 

 where there are all the other necessary requirements to perpetuate 

 this particular species of tick it is found to exist all the year 

 round. Even on this class of country in Southern Queensland 

 we occasionally have a season which may not be altogether 

 congenial to the movements or a continued increase of the tick ; 

 but while remembering that these seasons are of short duration, 

 we must also not forget that the cattle tick in a certain stage of 

 its existence — i.e., the pre-parasitic stage — is extremely tenacious 

 of life. I have just concluded some observations, where I find 

 that during our coldest weather in Brisbane the eggs of the cattle 



