FLEAS. 145 



skipped over by Fleas. Without giving into 

 such ridiculous researches, I can relate an 

 anecdote, which chance discovered to me in 

 regard to this insect. 



" Being sent for to attend a foreign lady, 

 who was greatly afflicted with the gout, and 

 having staid, by her desire, to dine with her, 

 she bade me take notice of a Flea on her 

 hand. Surprised at such discourse, I looked 

 at the hand, and saw indeed a plump and 

 pampered Flea, sucking greedily, and kept 

 fast to it by a little gold chain. The lady 

 assured me, she had nursed, and kept the 

 little animal, at that time, full six years, with 

 exceeding great care, having fed it twice 

 every day with her blood ; and when it had 

 satisfied its appetite, she put it up in a little 

 box, lined with silk. In a month's time, 

 being recovered from her illness, she set out 

 from Copenhagen with her Flea ; but having 

 returned in about a year after, I took an 

 opportunity of waiting upon her, and among 

 other things, asked after her little insect. 

 She answered me with great concern, that it 

 died through the neglect of her waiting- 

 woman.''— What I found remarkable in this 



