72 THE FLEA [CH. 



Both species are perceptibly larger than human fleas, 

 and dog-fleas have always afforded good material for 

 dissection. Very few dogs seem to be exempt from 

 ileas, and the little pets which are carried in ladies' 

 arms are often swarming with them. 



This account of a despised and detested group of 

 insects would be very imperfect if it did not mention 

 those educated or performing fleas which have evoked 

 so much astonishment among people who have 

 watched them. It will be best to say, at once, that 

 the fleas are not educated and that the performance 

 can only be attributed to their desire to escape. It 

 is stated that a performing flea may be broken of the 

 habit of jumping by being put in a pill-box with glass 

 sides which is made to revolve like a lottery wheel. A 

 short course of this tread-mill teaches the flea that 

 the objectionable practice of hopping is useless and 

 exhausting. It is said that the life of performing 

 fleas averages eight months, which seems surprising. 

 They are fed every few days, and the trainers delight 

 in showing the punctures on their arms where the 

 swarm of pets has been fed. 



Performing fleas are first of all securely fastened, 

 and this is nine-tenths of the secret, and the art of 

 education. A very fine silk fibre is put round the 

 body and knotted on the back. The flea may then 

 be cemented to some moveable or immoveable object. 

 It may pull a coach by being attached to a pole made 



