76 



Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 



These ticks are nocturnal in tlieir habits ; usually parasitic on birds^ 

 fowls, bats, and sometimes man, and are found in places frequented by 

 these animals. They are admirably adapted to their life, for their thin 

 bodies can easily be concealed in cracks about fowl-houses or under the 

 bark of trees. 



There are only a few species belonging to the genus, and they 

 resemble each other very closely. Three species occur in South Africa,, 

 which can easily be separated by the following keys : — 



Adults. 



A. Body almost circular in oatline, as wide in front as behind. 



vespertilionis^ 



AA. Body oval in outline, longer than wide, and narrower in front. 

 B. Edge of body formed of a border of rectangular plates. 



per sic us.. 



BI). Ivlge of hody formed of a series of irregular wrinkles. 



transgariepimis. 



Nymphs. 



A. Body almost circular in outline . . . . . . vespertilionis. 



■ AA. Body oval in outline .. persicus, and probably iransgariepinus. 



Larvae. 



A. Body truncate in front . . . . . . - . vespertil ionis. 



AA. Body not truncate in front. 



persicus, and probably transgariepinns. 



AEGAS PEESICUS, FISCHER DE WALDHEJM. 



Argas persicus, Fischer de Waldheim (1823). 

 Argas persicus, Laboulbene et Megnin (1882). 

 Argas persicus, Fischer de Waldheim (Neumann, 1896). 



Plate I, figures /, g, h, i, Plate II, figures c to n. 



Adult. — Body oval ; dull yellowish or reddish-brown, or often blueish- 

 black in colour, varying in accordance with the amount of blood taken 

 into the digestive apparatus. Dorsal surface {II, c) excavated, flat or 

 convex, according to the state of engorgement ; on each surface a border 

 formed of rectangular plates, in the centre of each of which is a circular 

 pit containing a small spine ; numerous shiny pits on the dorsal surface, 

 in the anterior quarter two large oval pits, rather close to the median line,, 

 diverging in front, surrounded by concentric folds, behind these two 

 similar pits, a little further removed and on each side of these, three or 

 four others forming a transverse semi-circular series, with the concavity 

 posterior, behind these a similar semi-circular series, then ^ several 

 straight lines in the posterior half, radiating from a central point, and 

 unequal in length, one of this series median, uninterrupted, extending 

 from the border almost to the centre, five or six short rows on each side, 

 of unequal lengths, some approaching nearer the centre than others ; 

 numerous small pits are scattered here and there on the remainder of the 

 dorsal surface, a row two or three deep inside the marginal border at 



