TICKS OF THE BELGIAN CONGO. 319 



iurther particulars are supplied regarding the ticks, i.e., their habits, frequency, 

 relation to disease, etc., these should be noted on a separate sheet with a number 

 corresponding to that given to the tubed specimens. Special care should be taken 

 to write the names of localities and of the cDllector very clearly. 



Packing specimens.- — Tubes should be tightly corked and, if possible, the corked 

 €nds should be dipped in melted wax or stearine as an extra safe-guard against 

 evaporation. Tubes should be well filled with alcohol. Each tube should be rolled 

 up in a separate piece of paper and surrounded with a layer of cotton wool ; this for 

 the reason that if the tube breaks the ticks remain inside the paper and the wool 

 absorbs the escaped alcohol. Failing wool any other vegetable fibre or even saw-dust 

 may be used. Pack tubes in strong wooden boxes. 



What to collect.- — All stages of ticks should be collected. It is not always the largest 

 (females) that are most interesting. Remember that the male is small, and is 

 frequently found attached close to the female. Nymphs and larvae may be very 

 small and frequently escape the eye of the collector whose attention is most often 

 attracted to the engorged females to the exclusion of the other stages. 



What to observe.- — Note the place upon the body of the host where the ticks occur, 

 and note the behaviour of the sexes. In birds they are commonly attached about 

 the head ; in mammals they are attached to the skin in places where it is thin or there 

 is less hair (about the anus, udder, genitalia, in folds of soft skin, about the ears, etc.). 

 It should be noted if the animals from which the ticks are taken show any symptoms 

 of disease or show protozoal parasites (Piroplasma, etc.) in their blood. 



When uncommon species are collected whose life-history is unknown, assuming 

 that gorged and fecundated females are available, it is very desirable that an attempt 

 should be made to raise the species through its various stages. Even if complete 

 success does not follow, some valuable information may be obtained from a partial 

 life-history. With the object of aiding those who may attempt to raise ticks 

 -experimentally we append a short account of the methods which may be adopted. 



How TO Raise Ticks. 



We shall assume that the investigator has secured one or more fully gorged and 

 fecundated females which have abandoned the host of themselves, or which have 

 been very carefully removed so that their mouth-parts have not been subjected to 

 injury. 



Gorged females must be handled gently, otherwise they will die. They should be 

 placed in wooden pill-boxes, each female in a separate box appropriately marked. If 

 the atmosphere is dry, a modicum of moisture may be supplied by placing the boxes 

 on dampened soil or sand in a covered or uncovered vessel. The boxes should be 

 opened daily for inspection, care being taken not to disturb the females more than is 

 absolutely necessary. Keep accurate records of events ; the date and host, etc., 

 from which the ticks were collected, and the time when oviposition begins and ends, 

 and w^hen the female dies. As the eggs accumulate, they may be removed to a corked 

 tube bearing a corresponding number to that of the female which supplied the eggs. 

 By covering the cork with filter paper inside the tube and allowing some of the paper 



