XXXJi, '21] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 307 



poor physical condition of the latter. Many had no hair on 

 their hacks; a few had, hut it was not sufficient to afford a 

 hiding place. 



This certainly proves that these fleas at one time fed upon 

 their natural host and then went into hiding as soon as they had 

 secured sufficient food. Rats slept in large numhers in the n< 

 under the floor of the stable, so the fleas could undoubtedly 

 obtain food whenever they desired it. In such places the rats 

 gather for winter quarters, and in just such a place as this the 

 life cycle of fleas continues throughout the year. Tf the beds 

 of household animals are kept dry and cleaned every few day> 

 there is little chance of the larvae ever reaching the adult stage. 

 In a wet season, if animals are out of doors, we have another 

 proposition to deal with, for there is plenty of moisture present 

 for the larvae to complete the life cycle. 



THE FEEDING OF ADULTS. 



Fleas were removed from the breeding cage, placed in a 

 test tube, and over the end of a tube a fine grade of silk bolting 

 cloth was fastened by an elastic band. A portion of the 

 abdomen of a host animal was shaved and the tube was then 

 placed upon this region. This method proved very satisfactory, 

 for from twenty to twenty-five fleas were placed in each tube 

 and from two to three tubes could be held in the hand at one 

 time. The fleas were fed once or twice every day. It never 

 required more than five minutes for them to feed. 



After feeding the test tube was placed with the silk-covered 

 end down upon a piece of moistened blotting paper, that was 

 cut to fit a small bell jar, the bottom of which contained mois- 

 tened sand and sawdust. 



FEEDING FLEAS ON UNNATURAL HOSTS. 



When fleas were removed from their natural host and placed 

 upon a monkey, rabbit, or guinea pig, there was very little likeli- 

 hood of their feeding, and nine-tenths of them would die in 

 about five days, while on the other hand reared specimens when 

 placed upon an unnatural host would feed in a very short tinv 

 and could be kept alive from thirty to forty davs. It seemed 

 that after thev once fed in the tubes little trouble was iound 



