150 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
.the median groove at its extremity ; caudal festoons faintly indicated. 
Ventral surface (XV, a ) of same colour as dorsal surface ; genital grooves 
beginning opposite coxae IV, and widely diverging ; anal groove semi- 
circular and opening in front ; ano-marginal groove long and deep, a small 
groove on each, side of it ; stigmatic plates elliptical transverse (XIV, f). 
Legs light brown, short and thick ; coxae elongate, like those of the 
female. Rd strum small, narrow, base triangular on the dorsal surface, 
.as long as wide, rectangular on the ventral surface, twice as wide as long, 
sides rounded ; hypostome spatulate, many small denticles at its tip, 
then three rows of teeth on each half, consisting of eight or nine large 
.sharp teeth, below these numerous ysquamiform teeth, extending to near 
the base; mandibles as in the female; palpi elongate/thicker than in 
adults; article I very short and almost glabrous; article II constricted 
at its base, and twice as long as article III ; article IV small, papilliform, 
and arranged as in adult. 
Larva. — Nearly circular in outline ; engorged larva 0.75 mm. wide by 
1 mm. long, including rostrum ; colour light yellowish brown, with shield 
.and rostrum darker reddish brown ; integument finely wrinkled ; festoons 
well marked. Shield (XV, f) heart shaped, finety reticulated, cervical 
emargination deep, cervical grooves deep, and reaching almost to postero- 
lateral margin ; no eyes. Ventral surface (XV, b) like dorsal ; festoons not 
so well marked ; anus near posterior third ; anal groove present, semi- 
circular; ano-marginal groove faint ; no genital grooves ; stigmatic pores 
in three pairs, one behind each coxa. Legs slender, light yellow ; coxae I 
triangular ; coxae II and III rectangular, each with posterior spine ; tarsi 
thick, dorsal surface prominent. A few fine hairs on both surfaces of 
the body. Rostrum light coloured, elongate ; base triangular on dorsal 
surface, wider than long ; quadrangular on ventral surface ; palpi elongate, 
article I short and narrow ; article II twice as long as wide, constricted at 
base; article III nearly as long as article II ; article IY very small and 
papilliform ; mandibles like those of female ; hypostome as in female. 
Eggs. — Very small, 0.50 mm. long by 0.40 mm. wide, light brownish in 
•colour. 
Hosts. — Iguana (Varanus niloticus) in Transvaal, Natal, Cape Colony, 
and Senegal ; Varanus sp. in German East Africa and Algeria ; Python 
sebai ; dog in South Africa. Both nymphs and adults are found on the 
above hosts. 
Distribution. — German East Africa, Madagascar, Natal, Transvaal, 
'Cape Colony, Senegal, Congo, Algeria. 
This species is very common in the Transvaal on iguanas, snakes, and 
large lizards, but has never been bred out. Nymphs and larvae are also 
• common on the same hosts as the adults. 
APONOMMA LAE VE, var. CAPENSE. NEUMANN. 
Tile Snake Tick. 
Aponomma laeve, Neumann, var. capense, Neumann (1901). 
Plate XV, figures d, e, g, h, i. 
Male. — Body short, oval in outline, wider behind, where it is widely 
rounded ; length 3 mm., including rostrum ; width 2 mm. Shield light 
yellowish- brown in colour, often so thin as to show the infernal organs in 
