REARING TICKS. 39 
It has been found that certain small animals used as hosts for 
breeding ticks learn after a few infestations to keep up a constant 
fight against ticks. This habit necessitates special attachment 
cages and also great care to prevent the ticks from being scratched 
off after they are once attached. A number of different forms of 
attachment cages have been devised. The utility of these varies 
with the individual animal used as a host as well as the species of 
host and species and stage of ticks applied. In some instances 
it has been found that successful attachments may be secured by 
placing the host and ticks in a close-fitting, loose-woven cotton 
bag with the end tied up. Another method of keeping the host quiet 
while the parasite is allowed to attach is to put the animal in a cyl- 
inder of 4-mesh wire. The cylinder should be large enough to be 
comfortable, but not large enough to allow the animal to turn around. 
In some cases a rectangular piece of 4-mesh wire is bent into the 
shape of a V-formed trough about 24 inches on each side and 5 or 
6 inches long. This trough-shaped piece is inverted and placed over 
the back of the animal within the cylinder, the front end being drawn 
down tightly over the head to prevent shaking. The cylinder con- 
taining the animal is then placed in an inverted bell jar in a pan 
surrounded by a moat. (See Pl. I, fig. 2.) The animal is kept in 
this cage only for a sufficient time to allow the ticks to attach. 
Small animals which do not fight the ticks may be placed in an 
inverted bell jar over a moat without using the cylinder. The 
bell jar should be covered with coarse-mesh screen held down by 
rubber bands stretched down on different sides to the handle of 
the jar. 
In order to determine the parasitic period of Ornithodoros megnini, 
cotton bags were fastened about the ears of the host animal and held 
in place by tying the puckering strings to rings in a cord fastened 
about the horns, as shown in Plate I, figure 5. 
In engorging nymphs and adults of Argas miniatus, it has been 
found necessary to place a hood about the fowl’s head in order to 
prevent it from devouring the ticks. Our experience has shown 
it to be necessary to bind the legs of the fowl sufficiently close together, 
with a strip of cotton cloth, to prevent an attempt at removing the 
hood and possible strangulation. Neither the hood of cheesecloth 
nor the cord, if properly applied, will occasion undue restlessness 
if the fowl is accustomed to handling. 
In applying ticks to tortoises it is necessary to tie a bag about 
the shell behind the front legs, as otherwise the ticks are likely to be 
devoured. 
While some ticks attach immediately after being placed upon a 
host, others wander about for some time before attaching, and with 
some species only part will attach, even though kept for several 
