518 BIRD MITES. 



Most persons who have been accustomed to see tin- common Watchman-beetle (Geotrupes 

 stercorarius) in its wild state must have noticed the frequency with which the under part of 

 the body is infested with certain pale yellow mites. This particular species is here repre- 

 sented. Sometimes the beetle is so covered with the mites that its whole body swarms with 

 them ; but, as a general fact, they confine themselves to the under surface. Many other 

 insects are victims of mites belonging to the genus Gamasus, the humble-bee being very con- 

 spicuous in this respect. 



Closely allied to the beetle-mite is the terrible Red Mite, so called by the bird-fanciers, in 

 allusion to its color when gorged with blood. When hungry it is of a light yellow color, but 

 when it has fed, the blood shows its ruddy hue through the transparent skin of the mite. It 

 is a very small creature, and lives mostly in the crevices of the cage during the day, coming 

 out to feed at night. I always used to destroy them by inserting insect-powder into the 

 crevices of the cage, dusting the birds well with the same substance, and keeping a small 

 camel's hair brush charged with oil, with which any stray mite could be at once killed. 



The well-known Scarlet Mite, so plentiful on banks and in gardens, is covered with a 

 soft down, which gives a very rich and pleasing depth to its color. This species is not of large 

 size, but in the East Indies a species is found which is three or four times larger than our own 

 Scarlet Mite. It yields a bright red dye, and is therefore called Trombidium tutcturium. 



Examples of a different family, the Pediculidse, are the Hog-tick and the Dog-ttck. 

 The former is found only upon swine, and not universally even upon those animals. It is of 

 moderate dimensions, measuring about one line and a quarter in length. Its thorax is mostly 

 brown, and its abdomen grayish-yellow. 



Mr. Denny, in his " Monographia Anoplurorum," gives the following account of the 

 Hog-tick : — 



" Hcematqpinus suis. This species is found in great abundance on swine, but it does not 

 appear so generally spread as might be expected from the dirty habits of the animals. It 

 most frequently occurs on those fresh imported from Ireland, the Sister Isle. It was many 

 months before I could obtain a single example. Here, in England, I had applied to both 

 farmers and pig-butchers, neither of whom seemed to approve of the idea which I had con- 

 ceived of their pigs being lousy, but referred me to those of the Emerald Isle as being sure to 

 gratify my wishes. 



"I accordingly visited a colony just arrived, where I most certainly met with a ready 

 supply. But here they were confined almost entirely to lean animals ; and wherever I found 

 a pig fat and healthy, no game were to be seen. In walking, this species uses the claw and 

 tibial tooth with great facility, which act as tinger and thumb." 



The Dog-tick is apt to be extremely troublesome, not only getting into the fur of the dog, 

 but harboring in their bedding, and almost defying all attempts at destruction. White pre- 

 cipitate seems to lie the best solid substance for this purpose, and a very weak solution of 

 nitric acid answers Avell as a liquid. But. in both cases, the dog must be muzzled to prevent 

 it from nibbling at its fur, and thus imbibing some of the poison. Its color is ashy-flesh, with a 

 slight checkering. The skin is-so transparent that the intestine can plainly be seen, of a dull 

 red color. When gorged with blood, the creature becomes of a light scarlet. This species is 

 also foTind on the ferret. 



The Deer-tick and the Horse-tick refer to another family of these creatures. The Horse- 

 tick is found both on the horse and ass, especially when fresh from pasture, and is very common 

 under such circumstances. It is rather a pretty species, with a light chestnut head and thorax, 

 and may be known by the squared thorax and the long (dub-like first joint of the antenna?. 



The Long-horned Tick, or Deer-tick, is also a common species, and is parasitical on the 

 common fallow deer, assembling in great numbers on the inner side of the thigh. The color 

 of the head and thorax is something like that of the last-mentioned species, except that there 

 is more red in it. Moreover, it can be distinguished by the antennae, which have the second 

 joint the longest and the third acute. The eyes, too, are large and prominent. 



