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woods, namely, the various mosses. These pests attach 

 themselves to hunting dogs, upon which they drop from 

 the trees, and fasten so closely by means of their pro- 

 boscis which is barbed, that it is difficult to remove them 

 when they are once fairly inserted in the skin. When 

 filled to repletion they are as large as a small hazelnut ; 

 these parasitic arachnidans are not only a torment to 

 dogs, but they also attach themselves to oxen and other 

 four-footed beasts, and not even sparing man. A few 

 drops of sweet oil, it is said, kills them, and they fall off 

 immediately; nevertheless, spirits of turpentine is per- 

 haps more reliable in its effects. If detached too hastily 

 the sting remains in the skin and excites inflammation. 

 Resembling this species is 



The Sheep Tick, which differs only in color, which is 

 gray, with black on the feet and back. 



The American Tick (acarus americanus) is also as 

 large as a grain of hempseed, but when it has sucked its 

 fill, it is enlarged to the size of the end of a finger ; its 

 shape is oval ; its color red with white dots on the back. 

 They are very numerous, and constitute a true pest. 

 Their sting is so fine that its entrance into the flesh is 

 not remarked until it has been insinuated to some depth, 

 when it is necessary to extract it carefully with a pair of 

 forceps arranged for the purpose. When they have satis- 

 fied their voracity to the full, they drop off, but not 

 without having first made a nest of the wound under the 

 skin, in which they deposit an immense number of eggs ; 

 these suffered to remain, great irritation ensues, occasion- 

 ing hectic fever. The pain is said to be intolerable, and 

 a disease is created which destroys life, both in man and 

 beast. 



A relative species is found in Persia, the sting of 



