4.55 
the  females  after  the  first  engorgement  varied  from  32  to  247  ;  after 
the  second  engorgement  55  to  199,  and  after  the  third  engorgement 
32  to  454.  The  incubation  period  varied  from  fourteen  to  sixteen 
days.  Lounsbury*  has  given  a  very  full  account  of  the  life-cycle  and 
habits  of  this  tick,  which  should  be  read  by  all  who  are  interested  m 
this  subject. 
TEXAS-FEVER  TICK 
Margaro'pus  anniilaius,  var.  auslralis-\  (Fuller). 
Male.  Dorsum  bright  red-brown  to  castaneous  or  chestnut  brown, 
with  more  or  less  regular,  branched,  black  markings.  Legs  pale 
yellowish-brown.  Venter,  in  the  space  between  the  legs,  brown  to 
pale  brown  or  almost  colourless.  Ventral  shields  and  caudal  process, 
bright  chestnut  brown.  Length  2'2S  mm. 
Unengorged  fe7nale  (i.e.  at  period  of  fecvmdation).  Dorsum  with 
three  well-defined  grooves ;  pale  ochreous  brown  clouded  with  smoky 
brown.  Scutum  bright  chestnut  brown  ;  eyes  darker,  tinged  with 
dull  crimson.  Legs  ochreous  brown  to  red-brown.  Ventral  surface 
pale  leaden  grey  with  irregular  pale  ochreous  blotches  or  markings. 
Length  2’50  to  3  mm. 
Engorged  female,  immediately  after  removal  from  host.  Dull 
olivaceous  to  leaden  grey,  sometimes  with  a  faint  greenish-yellow 
tinge ;  yellowish  markings  not  nearly  as  pronounced  as  in  females  at 
the  period  of  parturition,  being  almost  obscure  in  some  individuals. 
Ventral  surface,  paler,  especially  so  on  the  anterior  half,  which  is 
usually  of  a  leaden  grey  colour.  Small  area  surrounding  the  anus, 
whitish.  Length  10  to  ii  mm. 
Engorged  female,  four  days  after  removal  from  host.  Body, 
slightly  glossy;  pale  to  dark  olive  green,  often  with  distinct  yellow 
markings ;  scutum  small,  dark  red-brown  to  chestnut  brown ;  legs 
very  pale  brown,  faintly  yellowish  beneath  towards  the  tips. 
Habits.  This  tick  requires  but  one  host  during  its  developmental 
cycle ;  though,  as  in  the  case  of  all  other  known  ticks,  the  female 
lays  her  eggs  upon  the  ground  and  the  larvae  or  ‘  grass  lice  ’  which 
they  give  rise  to,  crawl  up  the  stems  and  leaves  of  various  plants, 
&c.,  congregating  together  precisely  in  the  same  way  that  other  larval 
*  Agric.  Journ.,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Vol.  XXIII.  No.  3,  pp.  261-273.  (Illustrated.) 
t  Professor  G.  Neumann  has  kindly  confirmed  the  Author’s  identification  of 
this  species. 
