114 THE FLEA 



been killed, that all the fleas leave as soon as the 

 body of the host gets cold. No time, therefore, should 

 be lost in searching for specimens. 



If the animal is small enough it may be put into 

 a cardboard box, or a white linen bag, and a few 

 drops of chloroform or benzine can be poured on it. 

 In a short time the fleas will be found dead in the 

 bag or at the bottom of the box. Some may also be 

 found in the hairs and feathers when they are turned 

 back. 



In the case of a large mammal the hair must be 

 turned backwards shortly after death, when the live 

 fleas may be seen running about and caught. For 

 this purpose a small camel's hair brush is very useful. 

 If a flea is touched with a brush of this kind which 

 has been dipped in chloroform, benzine, or alcohol, 

 the insect sticks to the brush, but can be easily floated 

 off into the tube of preservative. The best preserving 

 liquid is 50 per cent, alcohol. Methylated spirits can 

 be used. Acetic acid can also be used; but it is 

 objectionable because in a short time it destroys the 

 corks of the tubes. 



Each tube should only contain the fleas collected 

 from one host, but as many specimens as possible 

 should be secured, because there may be several 

 species of flea on the same host. 



The tube must be securely corked and labelled, 

 with the date, the locality, and the name of the host. 



