Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
The present investigation was primarily undertaken by Mr G. Merriman at the suggestion of Professor Nuttall, but was discontinued at a very early stage owing to Mr Merriman's departure for Africa. The object of the investigation was:
(1) To determine if immature stages of ticks whose mouth-parts have been mutilated or torn off by the forcible removal of the parasite from the host possess the power of regeneration. In nature, many immature ticks must be injured in this manner, and it seemed of interest to determine if they could regenerate the lost parts, thus helping them in the struggle for existence.
(2) To determine if the small legs occasionally observed in nymphal and adult ticks are due to mechanical injury followed by regeneration. A very striking example of such a tick is the type specimen of Amblyomma scaevola Oudemanns (♂), in which four legs are markedly under-developed. In the large quantity of tick material that has been received at the Quick Laboratory, individuals with one or more miniature legs have been observed repeatedly.