47 
ularly is this remarkable fact true of goats. In an experiment which 
involved the feeding of nearly a thousand adults on four ewes practi- 
cally every specimen attached itself near the anus or vulva. The two 
sexes are produced in nearly even numbers from a batch of eggs. 
Each settles on a host without regard to the presence or absence of the 
other; but after a few days of feeding, if females be at hand, the males 
release their hold and seek mates. Unmated females cease to swell 
after a few days and remain less than half engorged until found by 
males. Mated females swell very rapidly during the day prior to their 
dropping, often quite doubling their dimensions. The dropping nor- 
mally occurs on the sixth or seventh day. The females are then some- 
what larger in all their measurements than the blue females. 
OTHER IXODID. 
Some species of ticks are said to be restricted to a single host or to 
hosts generically allied, and on this account 1t may be of some interest 
to record that Amblyomma devium Koch, a tick often found on tor- 
toises and snakes in Cape Colony, has been removed from an angora 
goat. Two specimens only, one of each sex, were obtained as engorged 
nymphs. The determination of the species is by Prof. G. Neumann, 
to whom it may here be acknowledged I am indebted for affirmation 
of the determination of all the species mentioned in these notes. 
Another observation worth record here has been made in regard to 
Ixodes pilosus Koch. The male of this species seeks the female and 
establishes himself on her ventrum with his rostrum buried in what 
appears to be her sexual orifice. If separated he seeks to resume the 
position. Mr. E. J. Wheeler, of Almwick, England, has observed this 
puzzling act in another species of /zodes and believes it to be that of 
copulation. Jxodes pilosus is about the size of the blue tick. It has 
been taken from cattle, horses, goats, and hogs. It leaves its host to 
molt on both occasions. | 
THE TAMPAN TICK. 
The *‘tampan”’ is an Argasid, Onzthodoros sawignyt Audouin. Its 
life cycle has not been traced, but among collected specimens there 
appear to be at least four life stages; that is, one more than occurs in 
the Ixodid ticks. The tampan is a most repulsive creature in appear- 
ance, with an extremely tough, leathery skin and stout, curiously sculp- 
tured legs. The sexes can be distinguished only by examining the 
genitalia; at least no other certain way has been discovered. When 
fully engorged, the female measures up to half an inch in length by 
almost as wide and half as thick. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and 
man are commonly attacked by this tick, and scores of specimens lib- 
erated near a confined barnyard fowl fed to repletion on that animal. 
The feeding habit of the larvee has not been observed. Thirty or 
° 
