89^ 



liypostome {111, c, d) indented at tip, provided on each side ^yith 

 two rows of teeth Avhich occupy only the anterior half of the 

 organ; nunierous small teeth at tip, and in the case of the male several 

 small teeth between large teeth and inedian line, cremilations or small 

 teeth below large teeth ; two hairs at its l)ase. Pal pi, with the first 

 article longer than wide, bordered inside with a narrow flange, 

 finely chagreened on the dorsal surface; the other articles as wide as 

 long, smooth, numerous long pectinate hairs on all the articles, several 

 short spines terminal on the fourth article. Legs long and slender; 

 cod'Gc sub-triangular, contiguous, covered on their posterior half with 

 granulations similar to those of the rest of the body; the rest of the 

 surface of the coxae presents very hue granulations, which are found 

 on all the extent of the other articles; coxae I witli a blunt tooth 

 on the posterior median angle; second article cylindrical, as wide as 

 long in the second and third pairs, longer in the first and fourth; 

 the third, fourth, and fifth articles scarcely wider at the distal 

 extremity; tarsi wider at the base tlian at the free end; no pre-ungual 

 groove marked, except on the first pair; no teeth on article V and tarsi 

 as in O. savignyi caecus. Hairs rougliened or semi-pinnate on all 

 the articles, more a])undant and longer in the tarsi. 



Length of female, 5 to 6 mm. ; width, 3 to 8.5 mm. 



Length of male, 3.5 to 5 mm. ; width, 2 to 3 mm. ■ 



Hosts. — Penguins, fowls, (experimentally also man). 



Hahitat. — So far as is known, this variety is found mostly in the 

 nests of penguins on the islands oft" the western coast of Cape Colony, 

 where it is very abundant. It has also been reported from Tristan de 

 Cunha. 



This variety dift'ers from tdhije by the lesser development of the 

 cheeks which cover the rostrum. In the species they almost completely 

 conceal the mouth parts, l)ut in capensis they furnish only an 

 incomplete protection at the sides, and do not reach so far as the 

 posterior edges of the base of the rostrum. The hairs are also more 

 abundant and longer on the movable articles of the legs than is tlie 

 case with tahije. 



I have only seen a few preserved specimens of males and females 

 of this variety, and have never been able to secure live specimens for 

 rearing. Lounsl)ury records that they seem to alternate long periods 

 of rest with short visits to the host for feeding. He also says that 

 a favourite joke among the labourers of the Guano Islands, oft the 

 Cape Coast, is to place these ticks in the beds of new-comers. 



Sub-Family IXODINAE. 



This sub-family is characterised as follows: — 

 . Rostrum terminal ; digit of mandibles provided with twO' 

 apophyses, inner apophysis generally short, terminated by one to 

 four points equal or unequal ; the outer apophysis elongate, parallel 

 or straight, divided on its free border into two to four or five successive 

 teeth, which increases in size from anterior to posterior; palpi free, 

 with four articles, the two middle ones of which are excavated on 

 the inner surface, the fourth very short and in the form of a tactile 

 appendage, being lodged in a sul)-terminal pit of the third. Legs 

 slightly unequal ; those of the second pair the shortest, the fourth pair 



9 



