A Ticklish Hobby

Chronicle (Levin), 16 February 1949, Page 4

A Ticklish Hobby

Some of the delegates to the Seventh Pacific Sciencfe Congress are interested in snails. Others se'ek samples of New Zealand fungi, but Dr. T. Davis, of the Research Institute of Montana, li S.A., is particularly keen on the study of ticks. Out on a rambleNyith the Levin Natiye Flora Club yesterday, Dr. Davis; could not resist some tentative inquiries as to the potential tick carrying capacity of the cattle and sheep in the immediate locality. He confessed that he had not Jbe.en able to collect mapy specimens in New Zealand as there "were very few about at this time of the year." He wais, however, going on to Australia, where he said he hoped to trap a particular species which infested the kangaroo. He literally glpwed with anticipation when he teferred to a group of 35 specimens which he said could be found only in Australia. It was "extremefy interesting" work, said Dr, Dayis, and he had cathered specimens from all parts of the world for research work. Back at his laboratory he had a collection of 135 japs of ticks. Not unnaturally, the wil.ful ipip.ortation of such • undesirable immierrants was looked upon with no small atnount of apprehension bv the United States Government and'permits were usually required.