TICKS. 
215 
abdomen, which in the female is capable of great distension. The 
legs are strong and terminate in claws. The wings are obtuse and 
rounded, and the veins are confined to the anterior third. They 
can run with great rapidity, are difficult to catch and not easy to 
crush owing to their leather-like skin. In some animals they cause 
great annoyance, one or two being sufficient to cause them to kick 
furiously. 
Ticks. 
Ticks (^0%) are plentiful enough both as regards species and 
numbers. They are blood-suckers; the mouth is provided with a 
serrated rostrum or beak, by means of which they can pierce the 
skin and retain a firm hold. More important, however, than the 
annoyance caused by their fixation to the skin is the fact that in 
recent years it has been proved that several species are responsible 
for transmission of certain diseases in man and various animals. 
What particular ailments may be carried amongst elephants by ticks 
have not been established, but it is extremely probable that piro- 
plasmosis affecting these animals is at least one of them. As far as 
they have been recognized, elephant ticks belong to the family 
Ixodidae ; it is unlikely that the members of the family Argasidse 
will be found owing to the conditions under which these latter live. 
It is advisable that all ticks be removed as soon as seen, but care 
should be taken not to remove them forcibly : they are likely to leave 
their heads behind, nasty sores resulting from the irritation. They 
may be induced to release their hold by applications of turpentine 
and oil, or by adding a little crude earth oil or kerosine oil to some 
ordinary sweet oil. If an animal is badly infected the following 
dressing, noted in one of the Queensland Agricultural Journals, 
may be employed. It is very effective in dogs : — 
Soft soap ... 4 ozs. 
Kerosine ... ... i tea-cupful. 
* Water ... ... i qt. 
Boil soap and water together till soap is dissolved. When cool 
add the kerosine and agitate the mixture thoroughly for five minutes 
with a rod. Wash the affected parts with some of the mixture. 
Lice (oo^s) — H^^matopinus. 
Most animals have a special species and the elephant is no 
exception. The haematopinus of the elephant is a large blood- 
sucking parasite of a reddish colour and rather active. 
