42 NORTH AMERICAN FEVER TICK AND OTHER SPECIES. 
Genus ARGAS. 
The species belonging to the genua Argas are nocturnal parasites 
of chickens, pigeons, and other birds, and occasionally attack mam- 
mal-, man included. Two species are represented in tin- country — A. 
miniatus Koch and A. sanchezi Duges. The former has been found 
by Marchaux and Salimbeni to transmit spirillosis of fowl- in Brazil. 
There is some evidence of the occurrence of this disease in the 
I 'nit c< I States. 
ADOBE TICK. 
(Argus sanchezi Duges.) 
This species was described in 1891 by Duges from larvae collected 
at Guanajuato, Mexico, on a dove (Zenaidura macroura). In .-tinc- 
ture it is very similar to .A. miniatus. Neumann's description is 
based upon a number of specimens collected at Mariposa, Cal., upon 
a quail, and at Santa Agueda. Lower California, upon a wild turtle 
dove. Mr. Nathan Banks has specimens from Deming, N. Mex., and 
from Arizona, and it is quite probable that it will be found in Texas, 
and possibly farther north. Mr. Banks states that in New Mexico it 
i- found in houses and is there known by the common name used 
above. 
♦ FOWL TICK. 
(Argas miniatus Koch.) a 
This species was described in 1844 by Koch from Demerara. The 
name Argas americanus, applied b} r Packard in 1873 and used largely 
by writers in this country, is a synonym of A. miniatus. For excel- 
lent illustrations of this species see Salmon and Stiles, Ixodoidea of 
the United States, Plate LXXII and text figures. 
The species is well distributed over the world. The record- include 
Persia, Algeria, Russia, India, Australia, South Africa. Centra] and 
South America, and, in the United States. Florida, Texas, New 
Mexico, Arizona, and California. In southwestern Texas it is found 
in large numbers in and about chicken houses and out-door roosts, 
hiding away in crevices by day and coming out at night to engorge 
on the fowls. Tin- specie- seems occasionally to attack mammals, 
as Mr. J. D. Mitchell has taken it once in Texas from the rabbit. 
A- pointed out by Lounsbury, the sexes arc so much alike that, 
except by the size, the only safe way of separating them is through 
the form of the genital orifice. To quote from him, "This orifice 
[genital! is situated jusi behind the mouth part- on the under side of 
the front of the body; that of the male is relatively inconspicuous 
"Tin- name of this tick is in greal confusion. The one used by the writers is thai 
recently adopted by Banks. 
