BY C. J. POUND, F.K.M.S. 



37 





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tAvo triangular-striped lobes on 

 the lower end of the abdomen, 

 one on either side of the anus. 

 The females at this stage are 

 almost colourless ; the body is 

 somewhat elongated, and on 

 either side of the abdomen there 

 are two distinct longitudinal 

 furrows or depressions, and 

 three on the back, while the 

 most pronounced feature for the 

 size of the body is the head 

 shield or scutellum. If the 

 change from the nymphial stage 

 should result in a female, she 

 still remains attached to the 

 skin in the same position, but 

 if it be a male he at once re- 

 leases his hold, seeks his mate 

 the female, attaching himself 

 to the hide, immediately under- 

 neath the female, in an inverted 

 position. 



From this period the male 

 grows but very little, Avhile the 

 female, on the contrary, after 

 being fecundated, attains, so to 

 speak, an innnense size. During 

 the first five or six days she 

 only sucks up a small amount 

 of blood, while within the next 

 two days she becomes fidly en- 

 gorged, and at once releases 

 hold, falls to the ground, walks 

 away to some secluded spot, 

 either in a tussock of grass, or 

 under some dead leaves, and 

 lays her eggs ; and then the life 

 cycle commences again. 



