14 W. H. FURLONGE ON THE TULEX IRRITANS. 



The first stomacli of tlie flea possesses a very remarkable struc- 

 ture. It is, in proportion to its size, of extraordinary thickness 

 and muscularity ; in fact, it is so banded and cross-banded by thick 

 muscular fibres running in all directions, that it presents the ap- 

 pearance of a reticulated structure; indeed, under the ^in. objective, 

 "when filled with blood it resembles nothing so much as a closely 

 but irregularly knitted purse of thick crimson silk. It is, no doubt, 

 by the powerful contraction of these muscular bands, that the violent 

 movements I have described are nAintained. PI. i., Fig. 1 shows the 

 appearance of the structure of the stomach as magnified 200 dia- 

 meters. 



The Gizzard. — Situated at the anterior orifice of the stomach, 

 immediately behind the entrance of the canal, which conveys the 

 blood from the suctorial proboscis, may be observed a dense semi- 

 opaque muscular organ, in shape similar to an ogival-headed shell, 

 the conical end being projected forwards, and receiving the ex- 

 tremity of the suctorial canal, the orifice of the stomach surround- 

 ing its base. By careful illumination wdth a strong light, the 

 structure of the gizzard may be made out to consist of a dense and 

 very thick substance, surrounded by a reticulation of muscular 

 fibres, somewhat similar to those of the stomach, but the meshes, so 

 to speak, being more close and regular. In the living insect this 

 organ is generally to be seen in constant movement (if the specimen 

 is not too much compressed) elongating to about twice its normal 

 length, and then suddenly contracting, and at first sight might be 

 taken for a heart, or blood-circulating organ, so constant and regular 

 are its pulsations in some cases. In reality, however, it is a gizzard, 

 by means of which the blood corpuscules are ground up or disin- 

 tegrated until fitted for digestion in the second stomach. 



I have in this place the pleasure of mentioning a somewhat 

 curious circumstance of peculiar interest to the Club, as it relates 

 to the distinguished man from whom we derive our name — the late 

 Professor Quekett. I am indebted to Mr. Parkes, of Birmingham, 

 who enjoyed the privilege of his intimate acquaintance, for the fol- 

 lowing anecdote : — In a discussion upon the structure and functions 

 of the digestive organs of insects, it was observed in the presence of 

 Mr. Quekett, that suctorial insects are not furnished with any 

 gizzard or grinding apparatus, such organs being, in fact, unneces- 

 sary for the assimilation of their food. While assenting to the 

 general proposition, however, Mr. Quekett, with the sagacity he 



