368 
New York State Agricultural Society. 
The description of this tick, which I drew up at that time, is as follows: Length, 
0.10. Of a lurid dove color or leaden-blue, with an impressed furrow on each side of' 
the back, the furrow slightly interrupted near its forward end; and, posteriorly, a 
similar furrow along the middle, extending a little farther hack than the lateral ones, 
its anterior end more slender, and terminating about opposite to the middle of the 
lateral ones. Beneath, similar, but the lateral furrows almost in contact at their 
anterior ends, and diverging backward; and the middle furrow short, being merely 
a deep, oblong, oval indentation. The head, or clypeus, is crustaceous and shinimj, 
diamond shaped, with the posterior and lateral angles rounded and the fore end 
transversely truncated. It is finely punctured, with two impressed lines reaching 
almost its entire length, with a shorter line on each side between these and the outer 
edge. The head is of a pale chestnut color, as are also the beak and legs. These last, 
are shortish, thread-like and equal in length, each composed of six short joints, about 
twice as long as thick. 
Although this tick is so diminutive, and quite unlike the one first 
noticed in size and appearance, being thin as paper, whilst that is so 
plump and round that its thickness equals the total length of this, 
they coincide so exactly in color and sculpture that I doubt not they 
both pertain to the same species. The two impressed lines on each 
side of the head and the three furrows upon the back appear to be 
characters whereby, in connection with its leaden color, this species 
can be easily identified, whether in its ordinary gaunt state or obese 
from distention with blood. Though specimens in my collection show 
there are other species having three furrows upon the back, the 
furrows differ from those of this species, the middle one in particular 
being much longer here than appears usual for it to be. 
Two descriptions of this tick have now been presented to the 
reader, one being of its appearance in its ordinary state, when newly 
captured, the other of its appearance when distended with blood and 
several months dead and dried. To render this account more com¬ 
plete, I will next present a description taken from a living specimen 
filled with blood, though not so fully distended as the specimen 
already described. 
One of these ticks occurred firmly fastened upon the skin of a mink 
(Putorius vison.) On removing the skin a bright red inflamed spot, 
a quarter of an inch in diameter, was exposed on the inner side of the 
skin at the point where this tick was fastened; and on the whitish 
fascia of the muscle covered by this portion of the skin was a similar 
inflamed spot, indicating the excessive irritation and pain the animal 
had been suffering from this parasite. 
The specimen measures 0.38 by 0.23, and is regular oval, with bluntly rounded 
ends. It is flattened and glossy, of a white color tinged with leaden blue, the head, 
mouth and legs being dark brown and shining. On the back are three dilated, 
impressed lines or grooves, which are uneven, the lateral ones being narrowed by a 
