3 io EASTERN ETHIOPIA xxv 



an animal for six days, then after passing again through 

 a period of concealment and torpidity for eleven weeks, 

 moults, and emerges as a mature tick. When attached 

 to an animal the female tick seeks a male tick, and 

 after pairing she remains on the animal till thoroughly 

 distended with blood, then drops off, descends to the 



i 



The Tick (Omi'-hodoros moubata). A. Natural size. l Highly 

 magnified. 



earth, and lays eggs. At least a year is occupied by 

 the whole cycle. The male remains on the animal for 

 months after the female has fallen off. 



Adult ticks are visible to the naked eye, and the 

 females are usually bigger than the males. In some 

 species the female tick, when full of eggs or distended 

 with blood, may measure two centimetres in length. 



The species known as Ornithodoros mouoata i> 

 widely distributed through East Africa. Its body is 

 flattened and oval in outline. The integument is hard 

 and leathery. The female of this species is about 8 mm. 



