76 
Annals, of the Transvaal Museum. 
These ticks are nocturnal in their habits ; usually parasitic on birds,, 
fowls, hats, 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 he concealed in cracks about fowl-houses or under the 
hark 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 he separated by the following keys : — - 
Adults. 
A. Body almost circular in outline, as wide in front as behind. 
vespertilionis . 
A A. Bc-dy oval in outline, longer than wide, and narrower in front. 
B. Edge of body formed of a border of rectangular plates. 
persicus _ 
BB. Edge of body formed of a series of irregular wrinkles. 
transgariepinus- 
Nymphs. 
A. Body almost circular in outline . . . . . . vespertilionis . 
A A. Body oval in outline . . persicus, and probably transgariepinus .. 
Larvae. 
A. Body truncate in front . . . . . . . . vespertilionis - 
A A. Body not truncate in front. 
persicus, and probably transgariepinus _■ 
AREAS PERSICUS, FISCHER BE WALDHEIM. 
Argas persicus, Fischer de Waldheim (1823). 
Argas persicus, Laboulbene et Megnin (1882). 
Argas persicus, Fischer de Waldheim (Neumann, 1896). 
Plate I, figures f, 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 
