BY T. HARVKY JOHNSTON AND M. J. BANCROFT. 277 



that when ticks were present, then "■ tick scabs "" like those- 

 found on Mr. Hull's cattle, were to be seen. He believed 

 that his animals woTild 1)econie infested if i)laced in ticky 

 conutry. 



We think that the climate has a great deal to do with 

 the control of tick infestation on the plateau, which is between 

 3,000 and 3,r)00 feet high and e.xperiences cold Avinters and 

 exceptionally mild summer weather, Mr. Rowbothara 

 stated that the average summer heat, as recorded by him 

 for several years, Avas betAveen 50 and 60 degrees Fahr. at 

 mid-day, and ])etAA'een 40 and .)0 degrees at 1) a.m.. Avhile 

 frosts Avere very common in Avinter. 



Paspahim and cloAer Avere the chief fodder plants in 

 the tick free paddocks as AA'ell as in the paddock in which 

 the animals became infested, Avhilst rye Avas present only 

 in the clean paddocks. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. A. H. Cory. Chief Inspector 

 of Stock, Ave have receiA'ed a copy of a report, datetl May 

 7th, 1918, from Mr. Jas. H. McCarthy, Stock Inspector, 

 Beaudesert, re B. Birley, Tambourine, claiming to haAa- 

 tick resisting cattle on his farm. The report is as follows : — 

 ■ I ha\-e the honour to adAise yon that, when at 

 Tambourine recently, B. Bii'ley informed me that he had 

 on his property a number of tick- resistant cattle. He 

 particidarly claims that there are tliree coavs and a consider- 

 able number of young stock oAA^ned by him, and upon Avhich 

 ticks will not mature. Certainly 1 saA\' on one coav a number 

 of immature ticks dead, and from Avhat cause 1 do not knoAV.. 

 I found also a number of full-groAvn ticks on one coav that 

 Birley claimed Avas tick-resistant. This he said might 

 occur to a limited extent, that is to say, that an animal 

 maj' carry a small number of ticks and gradually the 

 resistance increases until total immunity is reached. This 

 immunity is yearly increasing in his herd, he claims. 



" As Mr. BirJey's claim is on the lines of the Munro Hull 

 case, I promised that I would bring it under 3our notice 

 for further investigation if thought desirable. Mr. Birley 

 challenges either myself or the De])artment to take tAvo or 

 three of his cattle, Avhich he Avill place at disposal free of 

 cost, and run them on grossly infested country, to proA"e his. 

 contention. As these cattle are seA'enteen miles from my 



