DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 295 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

 INSECTS AND THE STIFF DISEASE. 



TICKS. 



There are several species of ticks that attach themselves ta 

 cattle. The most common in this country,, and the one we will 

 describe here, is the Boophilus ~bovis. It is important and inter- 

 esting to know something of the life history, development, and 

 habits of this parasite on account of the important part it plays 

 in its relation to Texas fever, and the annoyance it causes stock 

 when they infest them in countless numbers. It was not until 

 about 1889 that any attention was paid to this tick. Experi- 

 ments show that the life of a tick, or of one generation (from the 

 time the eggs are laid until the tick is matured and full grown), 

 is from 45 to 70 days. It will be found that by taking mature 

 female ticks from cattle and putting them in a glass vessel, 

 they will remain quiet for two or four days, when they will begin 

 to lay their eggs, and continue to lay them for several days. Stat- 

 istics gathered at experiment stations show that the average full 

 grown mature tick will lay a little over 2000 eggs. All female 

 ticks at any age after maturity, that have been fertilized by the 

 male, will begin laying eggs in a few days after being taken from 

 or fallen off the host (cattle). The eggs will hatch out in from 

 three to four weeks, according to the temperature, moisture, sur- 

 roundings, etc. They will hatch out much quicker in hot, damp 

 weather than when it is cool or dry. These young ticks will re- 

 main on the ground alive for several months in favorable 

 weather, but will not grow or mature unless they can get upon 

 an animal. By having the power of living so long in this larval 

 state, they are very liable to get upon an animal if they are in a 



