[42] Copulation in Ticks 321 



after two or three minutes, they are finally withdrawn and the male 

 abandons the female. 



The ventral surface of the female is found bathed with coxal secre- 

 tion, the depression about the vulva has disappeared, and the collapsed 

 spermatophore is found attached to the vulva with its neck pushed into 

 the vagina. The whole process of copulation lasts about 15 minutes from 

 the moment that the male inserts his mouthparts for the first time. 



The spermatophore, immediately after it has been expelled by the 

 male, appears as a smooth, glistening, very flexible body completely 

 filled with slightly milky contents. (On one occasion when the male 

 was disturbed and the spermatophore was found doubled up on the 

 venter of the female, the spermatophore literally shot out its long thin 

 neck when touched with a fine camel's hair brush in the effort to remove 

 it uninjured.) The end of the neck of the spermatophore appears 

 closed and rounded, whereas the expanded portion of the spermato- 

 phore is usually bilobed. When the ticks separate without interference 

 the spermatophore neck appears shorter and the flask collapsed, and 

 somewhat spoon-shaped with the concavity on the side where the male's 

 body had rested upon it whilst in coitu. The neck of the spermatophore 

 is firmly attached within the vagina and force is required to remove it ; 

 on seizing the spermatophore with a fine forceps the female can be lifted 

 by it without rupturing the structure. On exerting more force the neck 

 of the flask tears loose at the point of entrance into the vagina and the 

 " mouth " of the spermatophore appears spread out and frayed. The full 

 spermatophore is crowded with " prospermiums" and secretion rich in 

 granules; when almost collapsed, a few male elements may still be found 

 therein. The spermatophore, very soon after coitus has taken place, 

 contracts, flattens and hardens, the edges of the " spoon " remaining 

 upturned. We possess several females in our collection which have 

 died or been preserved, with usually one, but at times two or even 

 three empty spermatophores still adhering. The flask-like covering of 

 the spermatophore is exceedingly tough, and tested with 10 °/o caustic 

 potash, it is found to be composed of chitin. The freshly expelled 

 spermatophore, with fully extended neck, measures about 3 to 35 mm. 

 in length and about l - 7 mm. in width at the widest part. When dried 

 and attached to a female, to whom it may remain attached for some 

 days, or even for weeks, it measures about 1"6 mm. in length. 



Although there are several points still to be elucidated with regard 

 to this interesting process, we consider that what we have observed 

 explains in the main how coitus takes place. The introduction of 



