Report of Entomologist : 
369 
contraction toward their anterior ends. The middle groove commences farther back 
than the lateral ones, and its anterior portion is shallow. Posteriorly it is prolonged 
beyond the ends of the lateral ones. Beneath are two longitudinal grooves, and 
between their hind ends is an elliptic impression, in depth and width similar to the 
grooves. One and another of these grooves becomes small and slight, and again 
becomes deep and wide at the will of the animal when it is living; and in the lateral 
ones, on the back, a series of punctures, live in number, are at times quite conspicu¬ 
ous. And I notice the middle groove on the back at times becomes for a moment or 
two greatly increased in its depth and width, the lateral grooves simultaneously being 
almost obliterated. Over the whole surface are very close minute transverse strife. 
1 he coriaceous chestnut-brown head has numerous punctures evenly scattered over 
its surface, and four impressed longitudinal lines, the two middle ones diverging back¬ 
ward. The two lines on each side incline to unite at their ends, thus inclosing an 
elliptic space. 
It is slow in its motions, and though heavy and unwieldy, from 
being gorged with blood, it readily crawls up the side of a glass bottle. 
It may be noticed that the blue tinge of the body in this species 
fades, and at length totally vanishes in specimens which are long pre¬ 
served. The small specimen described above, which was first taken, 
is now changed to a dull white color. The specimen distended with 
blood is also dull white with some dark colored blotches and dots 
here and there. The specimen taken upon a mink has now become 
badly “greased,” a casuality well known to collectors, rendering one 
and another of their specimens worthless, and for which there is no 
remedy that I am aware. Thus affected, this specimen, the body of 
which was originally bluish white, is now dark chestnut throughout, 
this being at first the color of the head and legs only. 
Is the bite of these ticks venomous ? Do they poison the wounds 
they make ? I his was a question on which there was some discussion' 
and difference of opinion among persons in the vicinity of Miss 
Turner, wme of those most intelligent on subjects of this kind being 
of the opinion that the bite of these insects was merely a simple 
wound. But the excruciating torment which it produces, we think, 
is a sufficient proof that the wound is poisoned. If it were a simple 
wound like that made by a sliver of wood, removing the irritating 
substance would immediately alleviate the pain. But, here, the pain 
continued intolerable for hours after the insect had been removed. 
Moreover, the fact is well known that some of these ticks are extremely 
venomous. One of the most noted of these is the Persian tick, 
Argas Persicus, locally termed the Malleli, and known to travelers 
as the Venomous bug of Miana, the species being most common and 
dangerous in that city in northern Persia. As showing the habits 
of these insects mere fully, and the symptoms produced by their bite, 
[Ag.] 24 
