no 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Length So Rostrum 8 Palpi 12 Spiracles S Shield 2S 



Breadth 48 ,, fi ,, 5 ,, 7 .. 28 



Legs (1st) .... L 12 S 12 ro 10 16 



B 8 6 6 5 s 4 



(and) .... L 13 710 S 8 14 



B 6 5 5 5 s 4 



(3rd) .... L 14 8 12 10 8 14 



B 8 6 5. 5 s 4 



(4th) .... L 12 10 12 12 10 14 



B 8 6 5 s 5 4 



It will be seen that the chief differences are the 

 larger size of body, shield and rostrum, the number 

 of barbs on the latter, and the presence of a spine on 

 the coxae of the fore legs. Also the fact that the 

 /. pluiubcus (?) were all taken from dogs ; whereas, 

 /. hexagonus was found on ferrets, stoats and hedge- 

 hogs, though to this but little importance must 

 be attached. 



IXODES KEDUVIUS additional notes {vide 

 S.-G. ante 5). 



Since commencing these descriptions, an opportu- 

 nity has occurred of observing the ovipositior. of eggs 

 by the female, which is most remarkable. The head, 

 which in the more youthful stages is carried horizon- 

 tally, is in the distended female held more or less at 

 right angles to the body. When about to lay an egg, 

 the head is further inclined till it rests close up against 

 the breast (fig. 20a). In this attitude the end of the 

 rostrum actually touches the genital orifice. The 

 palpi are at the same time widely opened out, though 

 for what purpose is not apparent. Behind the head, 

 and from under the shield, at what (for the purposes 

 of explanation) may be described as " the back of the 

 neck," a white, perfectly transparent, delicate gela- 

 tinous membrane is protruded by inflation with air, 

 or a transparent fluid, over the head, which it entirely 

 conceals. The end of this membrane terminates in two 

 horns, or " fingers." It appears covered with a gluti- 

 nous secretion. At the same time, an ovipositor of a 

 very similar character, but not quite so transparent, 

 is pushed out from the genital orifice (fig. 20b). This 

 latter is a tube, within which is the egg. As it pro- 

 jects-, this tube turns itself inside out, like the finger 

 of a glove, leaving the egg protruded at the end. 

 The egg is then seized by the two "fingers." The 

 membrane from behind the head, and the ovipositor 

 are then both mutually withdrawn (fig. 2or). The 

 egg adheres to the former, which drags it forward to 

 the top of the head, where it is deposited as the mem- 

 brane collapses, owing to the withdrawal of its con- 

 tents (fig. 200'). 



This membrane in its action closely resembles the 

 toy dolls of thin indiarubber, which are blown up, 

 and collapse when the air pressure is removed. 

 The time occupied in depositing an egg was three 

 minutes, and the period between the laying of two 

 eggs about six minute.-.. The eggs measure 53 mm. 

 by 38 mm. 



A paper describing the oviposition by a foreign tick 



was read by Mr. R. T. Lewi.^ before the Royal 



"Microscopical Society, on May 18th, 1S92. There 



are some points of difference, attributable no doubt to 



he difference of species. 



The foregoing notes are merely the collection of 



personal observations made during the past twelve 

 months, and are therefore necessarily most imperfect. 



The object of publishing them has been to call 

 attention to a very interesting and important subject. 

 It is hoped that others more accustomed to scientific 

 research will take up the question, especially with 

 reference to the obscure conditions which cause 

 susceptibility to louping-ill in some cases, and im- 

 munity in others. 



A complete and careful classification of the British 

 ticks and allied genera, as well as descriptions in all 

 three stages of their existence is much needed to 

 assist those who may desire to investigate the life 

 history of these pests, the want of which has been 

 the occasion of much confusion in the past. 



Swansfield House, Alnwick, 

 August, iSgg. 



Albinism in Flowers. — It may be desirable to 

 explain more fully the subject-matter of my 

 remarks on Albinism in Flowers (vol. v. 250 ante). I 

 will endeavour to do what is not very easy within the 

 limits of a short note. It has been stated that (1) 

 white-flowered specimens seem as health}' and vigorous 

 as those of the usual colour. They may appear so, 

 but their vital powers and processes are really not 

 so active and complete. (2) Is the whiteness per- 

 manent ? I should think not, but will refer to this 

 later. (3) As the pigments are derived from the soil, 

 how is it that a white-flowered plant will grow on the 

 same soil and the same spot as those of the usual 

 colour ? As far back as 1832, the great De Candolle 

 was obliged to declare that " the opinion long pre- 

 valent that red flowers owe their colour to an oxide of 

 iron appears without foundation." There is, however, 

 still a wide-spread and popular belief that the floral 

 pigments are derived from the soil. One corres- 

 pondent writes me to know why I said the flowers of 

 meadow-sweet ought . to be red ; also, if dryness is 

 proper for the plant, why it grows in wet localities ? 

 What I meant by "they ought to be red," is that there is 

 an abundant sufficiency of chromogen in the parts 

 concerned, but owing to the moist surroundings it does 

 not in this particular species develop into red pigment. 

 Under unusual circumstances this flower has, however, 

 actually been observed to be red, .like many of its 

 allied species. My observation that "there are no 

 absolutely white flowers," seems to have surprised 

 many people. The proposition may be a little too 

 strong ; but overlooking older authorities, I will 

 translate the words of M. Gillot, of the Botanical 

 Society of France. He says, " It is, in fact, very rare 

 that the white of the petals is absolutely pure ; in most 

 cases there exists a yellow, blue, or red colouring 

 matter in very minute quantity, which can be detected 

 only by the help of a close observation or of artifices 

 such as withdrawal by an air-pump of the air which 

 fells the inteicellular spares, and contributes to make 

 the organ appear white ; its true colour can then be 

 recognised." A deficiency of phosphorous in the soil, 

 on the one hand, and a deficiency, on the other, of 

 that suction force which is especially incidental to 

 flowers borne on specially long stalks would, com- 

 bined or singly, directly and indirectly, give occasion 

 for abnormal phenomena, such as doubling, albinism, 

 etc. I think from my own observations that annual 

 plants ■ habituated to damp habitats are especially 

 liable to lose a good deal of this normal transpiratory 

 activity. — [Dr.] P. Q. Keegan, Pattcrdah, West- 

 moreland. 



