Ornithodorus tholozani, Laboulbène and Mégnin, 1882.
Syn.: Argas tholozani, Lab. and Még., 1882.
Without eyes. Males 4 to 6 mm. in length and 2 to 4 mm. in breadth; females 8 to 10 mm. in length and 4 to 5 mm. in breadth. It especially attacks sheep. Native of Persia and Asia Minor.
[This species is reputed as being very dangerous to man. It is locally know as the kéné, or sheep-bug. In its fully gorged state it is deep violet.—F. V. T.]
Ornithodorus mégnini, Dugès, 1883.
Syn.: Argas mégnini, Dugès, 1883.
Length 8·5 mm., breadth 5·5 mm. Native of Mexico.
[Another synonym for this species is Rhynchoprion spinosum, Marx. The adult males and females are grey to dark brown, the male somewhat the smaller; female 5 by 3·5 by 2·5 mm. to 10 by 6 by 3·5 mm. The larvæ at the seed tick stage are dark grey, turning to pink, then to a whitish grey when engorged. The nymph when young is blood-red in front, rest pearly white; later they turn reddish-brown.
[Intense pain may be caused by its presence in and around the ears.
[Two specimens in the nymphal state were taken from the ears of a visitor to Cambridge by Dr. J. Christian Simpson. They were supposed to have entered the ears when the gentleman was camping out in Arizona (Lancet, 1901, i, No. 4,052, p. 1198, fig. 3).