55 # 
THE TICK. 
Genus VI. — Accirus. TJoe Tich. 
X he ticks have all eight feet ; two eyes, placed one oit 
each fide of the head, and two articulated tentacula, in 
the form of feet *. The tribe contains thirty five diffe- 
rent fpecies, many of which have been inaccurately plac- 
ed in the genus of lice. 
The ticks are all produced frem eggs ; the females be- 
ing oviparous. Many of the fpccies of this genus are 
carnivorous, and prey upon man, as well as other living 
creatures. When, however, this food is not to be pro- 
cured, they are capable of deriving their fubfiftence from 
plants and vegetables. The dyfentry and the itch, two 
iniupportable difeafes, are both occafioned by fome of the 
fmaller acari infinuating thcmfelves into the human body. 
In the latter of thefe complaints, they dig under the lkin, 
and occafion that raging pruriency with which the un- 
happy patient is afflicted f . 
Accirus longicorms is found below ftones and the bark, 
of trees. The abdomen and legs are of a red colour ; 
and the whole i rife ft fomewhat refembles the Ihape of a 
pear. The antennae refemble thofe of the fcorpion, the 
articulations being proporticnably fmaller and more (len- 
der ; their extremities terminate in a forceps formed by 
two threads 
Some 
* Syft. Nat. j>. 1021. f Icarus Scabici, Acres d’Upfal, 1736. p. 37. 
I Fiitch, 8. p. a. t , 1. 
