38 ON A NEW SOUTH-AFRICAN TICK. 



on antero-lateral portions of scutum. Marginal furrows and festoons deficient, 

 position of latter slightly indicated by a tendency to grouping of the hairs on 

 the margin of the body. Ventral surface shows few scattered hairs and 

 punctuations ; genital opening opposite 1st intercoxal space ; genital furrows 

 divergent ; median ano-marginal furrow shallow, lateral accessory furrows 

 indistinct. Capitulum with basal portion wider anteriorly, porose areas 

 large, irregularly elliptical, well separated ; hypostome as in male ; palpi 

 stumpy, external angles slightly salient. Legs pale ochre-yellow with brown 

 markings, segments not dilated as in the male ; coxal spines as in the male ; 

 tarsi bicalcarate, terminal spurs as in the male. 



Although the male of this species is apparently so aberrant, after a careful 

 comparison with other Rhipicephali, we have no hesitation in placing it in 

 this genus. In the majority of the male Rhipicephali the adanal shields 

 originate some distance in front of the anus, and in certain cases a distinct 

 tendency of the anterior extremities of the shields to approach the middle 

 line of the body is exhibited. In the case of Rhipicephalus phthirioides there 

 are signs of a median line of demarcation between the two halves of the 

 shield, and this line of demarcation we consider to be the line of fusion of 

 the separate paired adanal shields present in other representatives of the 

 genus. All the other Rhipicephalan features, more or less modified, are 

 present. The general appearance of the male tick is so remarkably louse- 

 like that it suggested the specific name. The description of the female tick 

 was made from a partially gorged specimen. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 5, 



Fig. ] . Rhipicephahis phthirioides, C. & E,., 5 • Dorsal surface. X 13. 



Fig. 2. Rhipicephalus phthirioides, 0. & K., (?• Dorsal surface. X IS. 



Fig. 3. Rhipicephalus phthirioides, C. & R., $ . Ventral surface, x 13. 

 Fig. 4. Rhipicephalus phthirioides, 0. k'R., S • Ventral surface, x 13. 



