NINTH ANNUAL REPORT STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 9S 



suspected connection of one or both of these ticks with the trans- 

 mission of an important and little-known disease of horses in Mon- 

 tana. It is clear, therefore, that information regarding- these ticks 

 is very desirable. 



At the time we undertook these studies, in the summer of 1908, 

 we were without adecjuate financial means for carrying on the 

 work on a sufficient scale to secure conclusive results and were 

 unable to secure the means within ths State. Accordingly a co- 

 operative arrangement was made with the United States Bureau of 

 Entomology whereby we secured not only the beniefit of their 

 knowledge and experience, but also valuable help in the field work. 

 Their experience was of particular value to us on account of their 

 having been engagefl in a similar piece of work on the tick concerned 

 in the transmission of the Texas fever of cattle in the southern 

 states. The entire time of one assistant under the pay of this Bu- 

 reau and part time of other assistants was given to this work, as 

 well as the expert supervision of Doctor Hunter. 



On the joint invitation of the Bureau of Entomology and the 

 Montana State Entomologist, the United States Bureau of Biologi- 

 cal Survey joined in the investigation in the spring of 1910, and 

 put two assistants into the field for the purpose of securing detailed 

 information regarding the mammalian fauna of the valley. 



This information was desirable for a number of reasons. It 

 is clear that these mammals serve as hosts of the ticks and also 

 that some one or more of them serve as the source from which 

 the ticks get the germ of tlie spotted fever. It was felt that a 

 further knowledge of the mammals would aid materially in the 

 work on ticks and at the same time facilitate work that doctors 

 and pathologists might do on the disease itself. 



In March, 1910, a field station was established near Florence 

 to afiford facilities for making close observations of what was ^'^- 

 tually happening in nature, for it was felt that only in this wav 

 could we get full and reliable information regarding the life and 

 activities of the ticks and their hosts. The work was continued 

 through the season of 1910 and resumed again in the spring of 

 1911. 



The results of the studies in the season of 1910 were of great 

 importance and have been published in bulletin No. 85 of the Ex- 



