3038 THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



recently it occasioned much suffering among the natives, and, by laming the native 

 postmen, caused delay in the transmission of mails. As in the case of the Pulitidce, 

 the fleas of this family do not confine their attentions to mankind. There is, for 

 example, a genus known as Vermipsylla, which occurs in Turkestan, and is said to 

 be very injurious to cattle; and Mr. Blandford has recently recorded a species from 

 Ningpo in China, found buried in the ears of sewer rats. Speaking of the occur- 

 rence of the jigger in Florida, a correspondent writes that " the wooden houses are 

 built on piles, and under them the sand is infested with jigger fleas. All dogs are 

 attacked by them, and fowls and puppies frequently killed; in fact, sitting hens 

 must regularly have their combs covered with lard and brimstone, and insect pow- 

 der dusted over their wings, to keep them alive. These jiggers are very tiny and 

 black, and do not hop like Old-World fleas, but, fixing themselves into the flesh, 

 stick there, and are most difficult to remove. An English visitor who has once 

 collected eggs in a Florida hen house, on a hot June day, will forever remember 

 the result." 



