188 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



give our own testimony to a similar fact, which we 

 have just witnessed. At the fair of Charlton, in Kent, 

 1830, we saw a man exhibit three fleas, harnessed to 

 a carriage in form of an omnibus, at least fifty times 

 their own bulk, which they pulled along with great 

 ease ; another pair drew a chariot 5 and a single flea a 

 brass cannon ! The exhibitor showed the whole first 

 through a magnifying glass, and then to the naked 

 eye ; so that we were satisfied there was no deception. 

 From the fleas being of large size, they were evidently 

 all females. * 



It is rarely, however, that we meet with fleas in 

 the way of amusement ; unless we are of the 

 singular humour of the old lady mentioned by Kirby 

 and Spence, who had a liking to them, because, said 

 she, ' I think they are the prettiest little merry things 

 in the world ; I never saw a dull flea in all my life.'| 

 When Ray and Willughby were travelling, they found 

 "•' at Venice and Augsburg fleas for sale, and at a 

 small price too, decorated with steel or silver collars 

 round their necks, of which Willughby purchased 

 one. When they are kept in a box amongst wool or 

 cloth, in a warm place, and fed once a day, they will 

 live a long time. When they begin to suck they 

 erect themselves almost perpendicularly, thrusting 

 their sucker, which originates in the middle of the 

 forehead, into the skin. The itching is not felt im- 

 mediately, but a little afterwards. As soon as they 

 are full of blood, they begin to void a portion of it, 

 and thus, if permitted, they will continue for many 

 hours sucking and voiding. After the first itching 

 no uneasiness is subsequently felt. Willughby 's flea 

 lived for three months by sucking in this manner the 

 blood of his hand ; it was at length killed by the 

 cold of winter.' J 



From this narrative, we should say that it was not 



* J. R. 



t Intr. i, 102. | Ray, Hist. Insect. , p. 8. 



