THE SHEEP TICK i?5 



distance was 27 inches; and the objective 

 used was the inch and a half. 



The Sheep Tick. 



The zoological name of the Sheep Tick is 

 Melophagus ovimus. It belongs to a division 

 of the Diptera, or two-winged insects, known 

 as the Hippoboscidce. The wings are variable, 

 sometimes present and large, sometimes mere 

 strips. 



In the same group with the Sheep Ticks 

 are the Forest-fly, the Horse-fly, &c. 



The proboscis is of peculiar formation, and 

 is not like that of other flies. It consists of 

 two elongate, closely - adapted hard flaps, 

 capable of diverging laterally to allow of an 

 inner tube to be passed out from the head. 



The Sheep Tick seems to be specially 

 adapted for creeping about on the skin of the 

 sheep beneath the wool. 



Its life-history is not fully known. The 

 creature, unlike most other insects, lays but one 

 egg at a time, which becomes hard externally. 



