imr,.] 51 



Should tlie host be small, place it in a small box or linen bag, 

 with a very few drops of chloroform or l)enzine. The fleas will then 

 be found crawling on the bottom of the box or bag, or among the hair 

 when the same is turned back. 



If the flea be touched with a small brush, moistened with chloro- 

 form or benzine, it will, stick to it readily, floating off in the tube of 

 preservative. The best preservative is 50 % of alcohol. 



Each tube of fleas should be labelled with the date, locality, and 

 name of the host from which the fleas were taken. If the name of the 

 host on which the fleas were fovmd is not known to the collector, the 

 host itself should be sent with the tube. A number corresponding to 

 one on the host should be attached to the tube. If it is impossible to 

 send the host, the name of the person possessing it should be given, 

 in order to apply to him for the name. Each tube should contain the 

 fleas from one host only. A good method of recording data is a label 

 written in pencil and put inside the tube. 



Large mammals cannot well be treated with chloroform or benzine. 

 If the hair of these, however, be turned back shortly after death, the 

 live fleas will be seen running about. These can be killed by touching 

 them with a brush moistened with chloroform or benzine. 



Small mammals can be treated in the same manner as large ones, 

 if the first method is found to be too cumbrous. 



Another very good way to catch fleas living on mice and other 

 small mammals is to place the live mouse in a bag. The animal should 

 then be killed by breaking its neck from the outside of the bag, and 

 searched in the manner previously explained. 



Traps should only be used in which the mice are caught alive. 



Bats, rodents, and small mammals generally are all good hosts. 



As many specimens as possible should be collected, there being 

 frequently several species of fleas on one host. 



To secure the fleas found on birds the following plan should be 

 adopted : — 



Take the nests of birds as soon as the young have left them. 

 Place the nest in a box, preferably one lined with white paper, and 

 with a glass top. From time to time the nest should be slightly 

 damped. The fleas will frequently keep emerging from their pupae in 

 the nests for six weeks or two months after the nest has been taken. 

 The live fleas can be taken oft" the sides and top of the box with a 

 camel's hair brush dipped in chloroform or benzine. 



