PARTS OF INSECTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 



139 



Fig. 235. 



Fig. 234. 



hind the eyes are two small cavities fringed with hairs, and which are supposed 

 to be the ears. Below the. head at 3, are seen three jointed members, which 

 are the feelers and piercer of the insect. The piercer consists of a tube and 

 tongue, and on each side of the latter is a sharp lancet-like blade, with which 

 the flea punctures the skin of its victim. 



The anterior pair of legs are shown at 4 and 5 ; at figure 6, are seen the mid- 

 dle pair, and the third pair are extended under the body of the insect. These 

 last double up their several parts together, like the foot, leg, and thigh of a man. 

 All the legs are fringed with hair, and are terminated by claws. In order to leap, 

 the flea folds up its six legs, and tben instantaneously extending them, makes 

 its spring, exerting its whole strength at one effort. The body of the insect is 

 encased in an envelope consisting of overlapping plates, symmetrical in form and 

 arrangement. Along the back and under the belly, the plates are studded with 

 hairs, equally distant from each other, and ranged in a line along the middle of 

 the plate. The distance between two contiguous hairs in the same row, is about 

 one-jive hundredth part of an inch. The plates near the head, are likewise 

 fringed with hairs, 



