34 NOTES ON THE CATTLE TICK. 



which are gradually seen to separate. In the next stage we notice 

 the extension of the egg from the ovipositor and the membraneous 

 body afterwards enveloping the egg. While the ovipositor is re- 

 tracting into its normal position tfhe egg is moved about freely in 

 the grasp of the membrane, which at the same time covers it 

 with a kind of viscid albuminous secretion. On the withdrawal' 

 of the membrane the egg is seen suspended by one end from the 

 under surface of the dorsal aspect of the head plate or skutellum.. 

 The palpi next come into operation, slowly closing together until 

 in close touch with the rostrum, so that the elevation of the head 

 brings their spoon-like terminal joints in contact with the egg ;. 

 a continuance of this motion effectively removes it from the de- 

 pression, and leaves it adhering to the outer margin of the 

 skutellum which makes the process complete. The head is again 

 depressed, the palpi resume their former position, and the series 

 of operations just described are again repeated, each successive 

 egg displacing, but, by means of the sticky coating, adhering to' 

 the one which preceded it, until a chain is formed, and ultimately 

 on reaching the ground an elongated heap of eggs is formed 

 through the tick gradually receding as the eggs are expelled froiui 

 her body. 



When once the procedure is established it goes on unin- 

 terruptedly until complete, but the length of time occupied to- 

 make the process complete depends entirely upon climatic con- 

 dition. As a result of many observations during summer months, 

 I find that the entire process of laying a single egg occupied, 

 approximately three minutes. From this it would appear that, 

 assuming on an average that a tick lays about 2000 eggs, the 

 process would be finished within five days ; but such is not the 

 case, for the simple reason that there is always an uneven in- 

 terval of time elapses between the laying of the eggs. I have seeni 

 as many as forty eggs laid by one tick within one hour, while iui 

 the next five hours she only laid tw-enty-two eggs. However,, 

 as a rule under the most favoiu"able circumstances the whole 

 process of oviposition is complete in from ten to twenty-one days.. 



If by accident or intentionally the tick is molested in any 

 way there is immediate cessation of the process, which in some 

 cases that I have observed did not coanmenee afgain for several. 



