12 Genus Argas 



p. 331. O. Described as "A. miniata." — Lounsbury (November. Repr., brief 

 mention), see Lounsbury, 1903. — Mosler and Peiper, p. 346. 0. — Neveu- 

 Lemaire, p. 154. O. — 1905. Borrel and Marchodx, p. 362. Regarding 

 spirillosis in fowl. — Neumann, p. 240. — Nuttall, p. 22. O. — Robertson, p. 561, 

 quoted by Hunter and Hooker, 1907. — 1906. Braun, p. 371. O.— Froggatt, 

 pp. 14-18 ; gives general account of life history and habits ; measures for tick 

 destruction in infested fowl houses (A. americanus). — 1907. Donitz, W., p. 27. — 

 Hunter and Hooker, p. 71. Reaney, p. 401.— 1908. Hooker, a, p. 39.— 

 Manson, p. 204. O.— Nuttall, p. 394 et seq.— Banks, p. 15. 



(Not "Argas americanus Latreille" of Ercolani, 1859, p. 248; 

 Gamgee, 1871, p. 219. Not " Argas americanus De Geer" of Megnin, 

 1880, p. 134. (Megnin thought it an Argas from a figure published by 

 J. Goudet; no reference.) Acarus americanus see Amblyomma ameri- 

 canum. Dolly, 1894, p. 980. From Salmon and Stiles, 1901, p. 402.) 



With the exception of a few unimportant papers all of the above 

 have been consulted in the original. 



Specific Description. 

 (Refer to Figs. 2—26, PL I, Fig. 3.) 



Adults : — Body ovate or quite oval, widest towards the posterior end. 

 Margin (150-200 fi wide), composed of quadrangular units or " cells," each 

 enclosing a circular pit. Discs numerous, oval or round, arranged as shown 

 in figures 3, 4. Venter: anus nearly central, with smooth anal ring; 

 spiracles small (125 /j.) crescentic, equal to about half the width of the 

 anal ring; genital opening between coxae I and II 1 . Capitulum: base 

 ventrally with four long hairs directed forwards, two post-hypostomal, 

 one near the articulation of each palp (post-palpal). Palps about twice 

 as long as hypostome, second article longest, the others equal in length. 

 Chelicerae (see Figs. 15 a and b). Hypostome indented, 6 or 7 fine 

 denticles on each half distally, followed by stout teeth 2 | 2, the numbers 

 of teeth increasing to 3 1 3, 4 j 4, 5 | 5 basally, the teeth decreasing in size, 

 not attaining the external border nor extending beyond half the length of 

 the hypostome. Legs : sub-equal and similar ; coxa I distinctly separated 

 from coxa II in $ ; coxae II, III and IV contiguous; article 3 the 

 longest ; articles 3 and 4 broader distally ; tarsi with very slight dorsal 

 protuberance. 



The above description applies to both sexes, which differ chiefly in 



the slightly smaller size of the J 1 — which is slightly narrower in front 



(ovate, PL I, Fig. 3) — and in the appearance of the genital orifice 



(Figs. 11, 12). The latter is slit-like and broader than the capitulum 



1 See Figs. 11, 12. In gravid $ it may be more anterior, as in Fig. 4. 



