PERMANENT PREPARATIONS OF TICKS 675 



into the ear and burying themselves out of sight. In the jackal these 

 ticks also attach themselves under the long hairs on the neck ; they can 

 often be located by passing the hand over the skin. 



The ticks (Haemaphysalis) which are found on cats always select the 

 ears, to the margins of which they attach themselves ; the same is true of 

 the mongoose, squirrel, rat, mouse, shrew and similar small animals which 

 harbour ticks of this genus. In the case of squirrels and rats the ticks 

 often select the root of the tail and the adjacent portion of the back. 



The ticks of birds usually select parts which are devoid of feathers, such 

 as under the wing, around the eyes, parts of the neck, etc. ; the feet, 

 especially between the toes, are also favourite sites. 



Ticks should be detached from their host with great care, to avoid 

 breaking off the mouth parts. The most satisfactory method is as 

 follows : Grasp the body of the tick between the 



thumb and forefinger, and depress the latter so as to "? e * h< ? of ^ m< ? vi " g 

 . ticks from the host 



get the nail just over the capitulum. By exerting 



slight pressure the body of the tick is made to act as a wedge, and in 

 most cases it will relax its hold on the skin. When the tick is very 

 deeply embedded, as in the case of Hyalomma aegyptium and Amblyomma 

 hebraeum, forceps may be used, but they should be avoided as far as pos- 

 sible, as they are apt to damage the specimen by tearing off the legs 

 if they slip. Force must on no account be resorted to, or the mandibles 

 or hypostome will be torn off. A drop or two of zylol often causes the 

 tick to withdraw its mouth parts, but in the case of Hyalomma aegyp- 

 tium, where the entire capitulum is buried in the skin, even this pro- 

 cedure fails. Repeated attempts should be made with the thumb and 

 forefinger and with a little patience in most cases the tick comes away. 

 When ticks are removed from their hosts a ring of skin comes away 

 with the mouth parts ; it can be removed later, when the specimen 

 is hardened, with a pair of forceps. Larvae and nymphs are as a rule 

 easy to dislodge. If a female is nearing repletion it should be allowed 

 to become full-fed, when it will drop off of its own accord. 



The male tick is often found lying below the female, to which it 

 clings, seldom having its mouth parts in the skin of the host ; it comes 

 away with the female. 



The most successful way of preparing ticks for examination is that 

 employed by Christophers. The specimen, preferably not replete, is 



placed between two glass slides, which are held in 



i t_i_ L j ^ ii- r r Preparation of per- 



position by rubber bands made by cutting on pieces 01 manen t specimens 



ordinary rubber gas tubing ; string will do equally welL 



