144 THE FLEA. 



A Flea with a Gold Chain, exhibited before 

 Queen Elizabeth. 



In the year 1578, and the 20th of Queen 

 Elizabeth, Mark Scahot, a blacksmith, made 

 a lock consisting of eleven pieces of iron, 

 steel, and brass, with a hollow key to it, that 

 altogether weighed but one grain of gold. 

 He likewise made a gold chain, composed of 

 forty three links, which he fastened to the 

 lock and key, and having put it about the 

 neck of a Flea, that little creature drew them 

 with all ease ; which being done in her 

 Majesty's presence, he put the lock and key, 

 Flea and chain, into a pair of scales, and 

 they altogether weighed but one grain and a 

 half. 



0)1 the Duration of the Life of a Flea, - 

 by BoRRiCHius. From the Acts of I 

 Copenhagen. 



Pliny represents to us a Greek philo- 

 sopher, whose chief occupation, for several 

 years together was, to measure the space 



