AMBLJOMMA :HEBR2EUM. 105 



The first-mentioned of the above, which was sent over 

 in spirit still adhering firmly to a piece of hide, and so 

 remained during the time it continued in my possession, 

 Mr. Bairstow described as " The disastrous hide-perfo- 

 rator of these regions commonly known here as the 

 Shell Tick," very beautiful in appearance, but none the 

 less injurious, as when its lancet sucker is inserted it 

 remains in position for such a lengthened period as to 

 cause evident distress to the victim and injury to the 

 animal; also that it would indeed be a boon to the 

 country if any means could be discovered to destroy 

 or, what would be better, prevent the presence of a 

 little creature which moves a market downwards at a 

 high percentage." 



With regard to the Great Cattle Tick, Mr. Bairstow 

 forwarded a specimen with a quantity of eggs in spirits, 

 and an outline, of somewhat oval form, three-quarters 

 of an inch long by three eighths wide, giving the size of 

 the parent Tick when it reached him, with eggs in 

 thousands. It is interesting as pointing out such a 

 vast prolific tendency. It lived a month after it com- 

 menced to deposit. 



Excepting the great amount of mischief caused by 

 these Ticks very little is noted of their habits, and 

 therefore the following extract (appended in Murray's 

 ' Aptera,' pp. 201 203, to the mention of Amblyomma 

 rotundatum, Koch, of S. America) may probably be of 

 service as giving an account of the general method of 



Tick," as follows: "The common huge Blue Tick, though sometimes 

 occurring almost gregariously in thousands upon one beast, gorges to so 

 filthy a repletion that it falls off upon the ground. The Shell Tick is 

 left, though preceding the other in arrival." It appears, from the notes, 

 that the "Blue Tick" and the "Great Cattle Tick" are most likely 

 merely different common names for the same kind, therefore I have above 

 drawn attention to the colour of the Great Cattle Tick as received having 

 probably undergone the change which may be (to give a common example) 

 seen in this country in Dog Ticks ; but, however this point may be, in 

 the letterpress above I have only referred to the kinds sent over as 

 " Shell Tick " and as " Great Cattle Tick," not at all to the Blue Tick, 

 so, whether this is or is not the same as the Great Cattle Tick, this makes 

 no confusion with identification of the others. E. A. O. 



