CLASSIFICATION \NI) HABITS OF TICKS. .>< 
Whereas adults seem to confine themselves mostly to sheep, cattle, 
and deer, the larvae and nymphs attach themselves very readily to 
various hosts, such as horses, dogs, and human beings. About a 
dozen distended nymphs taken Prom sheep May 29, though kept 
moist, had the same dry appearance as the lana\ as before described. 
These molted about July 19, about II weeks after removal from 
the host . For some time previous t bey had appeared dead, no mot ion 
of the extended legs being perceptible. Of these about half proved 
to be males. About 10 days passed before the sexes attained their 
proper color and strength. On reaching the adult stage both males 
and females again wait on herbage for a passing host. At this time, 
as well as after distention of the female on the host, an action which 
appears to he sexual intercourse freely takes place even in confine- 
ment. The rostrum and other mouth parts of the male are Inserted 
in the genital opening of the female, which is situated between 
the bases of the posterior pair of legs. On the host the females grad- 
ually distend, and in the course of so doing vary much in color and 
appearance, so much so in this case that it is difficult to believe that 
they are of the same species. Of the exact periods of engorgement 
we are not informed. Under unfavorable conditions larvse have been 
kept alive for 4 months. Nymphs were kept alive for 6 months and 
adult males and females for 4 months, being still alive at the time of 
writing (1899). Without moisture, when kept in a dry empty bottle, 
neither larva', nymphs, nor adults survived more than 2 or 3 days. 
Females exposed to 25° F. for a night were found to be but little 
affected. 
This species, according to recent investigations of Kossel and others 
in Germany, transmits European piroplasmosis of cattle. The fact 
that the organism Pirojrtasma bigeminum is the same as is found in 
this country lends great interest to investigations to determine 
whether I. ricinus may not transmit Texas fever in the United States. 
BLACK-LEGGED- TICK. 
(Ixodes scapularis Say.) 
Say states that this species is rather common in forests, and is fre- 
quent lv found attached to different animals. Neumann has not 
recognized the species, but Banks has identified it with a form com- 
mon in some parts of the South. In Texas we have collected it from 
^\ri^]- and dogs, and in Florida from dogs. In the latter State it seems 
to be very common, and was taken at Hawthorn, Orlando, and Fort 
Myers. 
This species is remarkable for the size that the engorged seed tick 
reaches. These are as large or larger than the engorged nymph of 
Margaropus annulutus, although the adult is not as large as the adult 
Margaropus. Large numbers of seed ticks and adults have been 
