104 



An^tals of the Tkansvaal Museum. 



margin of coxae I, a smaller one on coxae II, and one almost obsolete 

 on coxae III. (Engorged) Body broadly oval, slightly longer than 

 broad ; colour dark l)lnish grey, except a round shield at anterior end, 

 which is dirty yellow; no grooves on either surface. SJiield becomes- 

 entirely of a reddish brown colour. Length 1.5 mm., width 1.3 mm. 



Eggs.— Very small, light brownish in colour, elliptical in outline, 

 surface smooth, 0.5 mm. long by 0.3 mm. wide. 



Hosts.— The hosts are much the same as for the type. Adults 

 attack nearly all warm-blooded animals, and are common on ox, 

 sheep, goat, horse, dog, hare, and even ostriches, fowls and man ; it 

 prefers the feet and under parts of such animals. The larvae and 

 nymphs feed on the heads of fowls, birds, hares, rabbits, and have 

 frequently been taken from the ostrich. 



Distribution . — This variety seems to be very common throughout 

 the greater part of South Africa, usually in greater numbers than the 

 type. I have received it from Cape Colony, Natal, and the Transvaal, 

 and Neumann reports it from Senegal. 



This tick is found even in the driest parts of South Africa, and 

 unfed adults may be frequently found moving about the ground or 

 hidden under bark of trees at outspans. It is one of the ticks with 

 two hosts ; the larvae and nymph requiring only one host ; the newly 

 transformed nymph settles down next to the old larval skin without 

 dropping from the host. The whole life-cycle probably occupies sl. 

 year. 



HYALOMMA HIPPOPOTAMENSE, (DENNl .) 

 The Hippopotamu.s Tick. 



Li'odes hippopotamensis (male), Denny (1843). 



hvodcs himacvlatus (female), Denny (1843). 



Amhhjomnui liippopotami, Koch (1844, 1847). 



A)nhJ)jon}nu( h i ppopotamense (Denny), (Neumann 1899). 



H jpilounna Ji i ppopota meiise (Denny), (Neumann 1906). 



1*1 (it e /I , figure m. 



Male. — Body in a short oval, widely rounded behind, 5.8 mm.. 

 long by 5.3 mm. wide. Dorsal shield shining, convex, with punctua- 

 tions unequal, rare, a few large and deep ; no marginal groove nor 

 posterior festoons ; cervical grooves deep in front, prolonged behind to 

 the limits of a pseudo-shield like that of the female ; general colour 

 of the shield clear, ochre yellow, or dirty yellowish white with linear 

 designs and punctuations deep brown ; the designs consist of a line 

 which cuts off a space like a female shield and expands to the level 

 of the eyes; two lines follow the cervical grooves and delimit a violin- 

 shaped space ; behind the limit of this pseudo-shield a fine transverse 

 line, ending in two oblique spots ; from the margin extend short, 

 radiating lines, three of which join at each side to a longitudinal, 

 discontinued line ; those of the posterior margin represent the limits 

 of the absent festoons ; the median is prolonged to the transverse line, 

 which is crossed at the level of the stigmatic plates by a transverse 

 band; eyes small, whitish, hemispherical. Ventral surface (IV, m) 



