106 . CATTLE TICKS. 



life of the Ticks of this genus (Amblyomma} , including 

 the very serious harm caused by them to the infested 

 cattle : 



" This (A. rotundatum) may be taken as the type of a 

 multitude of Ticks that infest South America, where 

 they are known by the name of Carapato, being so called 

 in consequence of their resemblance to the Eicinus which 

 bears that name in Portuguese. 



" There are many species that go by this name, but 

 no doubt the majority belong to the genus Amblyomma. 

 They are common in all parts of South America where 

 cattle abound, and they not only attack cattle, but also 

 horses, dogs, and sheep, and occasionally man himself. 

 Like our own Ticks they are found on plants, and when 

 cattle become infested with them it is generally after 

 feeding on open and exposed pastures, where the sun's 

 heat is great, and they increase most in dry seasons. 



" It is remarkable that cattle feeding in shady pastures 

 and coppices are frequently quite free from the Carapato, 

 but will acquire it by infection from others. The mode 

 in which it appears to cause destruction to the animal 

 infested by it is by the incessant irritation, which 

 prevents|the animal feeding or resting, and in consequence 

 it becomes worn out. Many thousand head of cattle are 

 annually carried off by them, and even a scarcity of food 

 has been caused by them. Prof. Busk, from whom we 

 take some of these details, in describing the young of 

 one species (Trans. Mic. Soc., vol. i.), and the mischief 

 that they do, mentions that ' they first appear on those 

 parts of the skin uncovered by hair, and are then not 

 larger than a pin's head, and make the part quite black 

 by their numbers. They adhere so closely that scraping 

 them off would tear off the skin. In a short time they 

 increase to the size of a bean, or Common Tick, as seen 

 in dogs, and fix themselves promiscuously on all parts 

 of the hide, where covered with hair.' 



" The same species appears to insinuate itself, in its 

 incipient state, upon the human body, but is not known 

 to assume the Tick form there (doubtless because not 



