1900] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 127 



Fowl Ticks. — Argas reflexus is a kind of tick said to 

 be common in Europe, and to be frequently found in pig- 

 eon-houses, lying concealed in crevices during the day but 

 attacking the birds whilst roosting at night. This crea- 

 ture, although well-known in Europe, does not appear to 

 have been described until March, 1871; when some speci- 

 mens were discovered in a portion of Canterbury Cathe- 

 dral then undergoing repairs. Two specimens subsequent- 

 ly found also in one of the passages of the Cathedral in 

 April, 1872, lived in a glass-topped box for one year and 

 ten months; they laid eggs about two months after their 

 capture, and the eggs hatched about six weeks later, the 

 young had six legs, but though they lived about six 

 months they did not develop further. On being submit- 

 ted to Professor Westwood, they were by him determin- 

 ed to be Argas reflexus of Latreille, synonymous with 

 Ixodes Marginatus of Fabricius, and Rhynchoprion Co- 

 lumbaa of Herman, and possibly also with Argas Fischer 

 from Egypt, and Argus Mauritianus, or even with the 

 poison bug of Persia, Argas Persicus. The Canterbury 

 Tick was described and figured in "Science Gossip" for 

 1874, by Mr. James Fullagar of Canterbury. 



The Canterbury Tick is identical with the species which 

 attacked fowls at night in Cape Colony. It often happens 

 that we search far from home for what is close at hand ; 

 and so it proved in this instance, for whilst taking great 

 trouble to obtain a specimen of Argas reflexus elsewhere 

 a dozen were all the time upon the table of a student to 

 whom Mr. Pond had sent Queensland fowl ticks. — Quek- 

 ett Club. 



Is it True ? — "If you breathe on a piece of glass, and im- 

 mediately apply a microscope thereon, you will discover 

 tracings of beautiful foliage." — Albert Alberg, 439 31st 

 street, Chicago, 111. Will any of our readers who verify this 

 please send descriptions of what they see? 



