io8 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



IXODES HEXAGONUS, Leach. /. AUTUMN- 

 ALIS (?), Leach. 

 Several specimens of this tick have been received. 

 They were found on stoats, ferrets, and hedgehogs. 

 Professor Neumann names it Ixodes hexagomis, after 

 Leach. An examination of Leach's type specimens 

 at the British Museum led to the conclusion that it 

 was his Ixodes autttmnalis ; but the specimens, as 

 above said, were too old to depend upon. All the 





Fig. 1%.— Ixodes hixagmius. Length 1.70 mm. a dorsal 

 aspect. l> in balsam, c capitulum enlarged, e coxa of 

 fore leg. d tarsus of fore leg. 



individuals received were partially-distended females, 

 and distended larvae and pupae. Some were sent to 

 me by Mr. Pocock on February 7th, and were kept 

 alive on damp sand and moss in the usual way. On 

 April 29th, after eleven weeks and four days, it was 

 discovered that two of the larvae had undergone their 

 metamorphosis, but one larva remained unchanged. 



Whilst the total length of the ticks is little altered, 

 other considerable changes have taken place. The 

 shield is greatly enlarged, the rostrum and palpi 

 lengthened, and not only has the fourth pair of legs 

 appeared, but the others are much developed. A con- 



Fig. 17. — Ixodes hexagonus. $ partly distended. 



siderable alteration has also taken placein the intestinal' 

 markings, which seem to have reappeared in the- 

 larva (previously all black), as the time of metamor- 

 phosis approached. The exact day on which it 

 occurred was not observed. Distended ticks in all 

 stages become very sluggish, attempting to escape 

 notice by feigning death ; but in this case, so soon- 



Fig. 19. 

 aspect. 



—Ixodes hexagonus. a larva, tully distended dorsal' 

 /' in balsam, e capitulum enlarged, d fore leg. 



