THE FLEA. 193 



amusement to man by various little tricks. The first step 

 in the process is to restrain his natural inclination to jump. 

 This is done by placing him in a low, flat box with a glass 

 lid. The flea, supposing that he has an open space over- 

 head, jumps, strikes the glass with great violence, and falls 

 half-stunned. This discourages him, but, unable to account 

 for the phenomenon, he tries again and again, until at last, 

 after some days, he arrives at the conclusion that there is 

 something altogether wrong with the atmosphere, and that 

 jumping must be abandoned. After this the rest is easy. 

 He can be taught to drag a little carriage, to sit on the box, 

 to fire a tiny cannon, or to perform other feats. He never, 

 however, recovers thoroughly from the effect of his terrible 

 blows against the glass.- His heart and his spirit appear 

 to be alike broken. Like a caged eagle he mopes out his 

 life, and seldom lives more than a month or six weeks after 

 his education is completed. 



His is, in fact, the true gipsy spirit. Free, he will make 

 himself happy under any circumstances, and although he 

 may have his preferences, can g',c on anywhere. He 

 loves the young and the tender, but does not despise age. 

 Free, he is joyous, lively, and during : a captive and 

 chained, he pines and dies. It is a pity that no one will 

 do for him what Sir John Lubbock has done for the ant. 

 Such an investigator would no doubt be able to rehabilitate 

 the flea in public estimation. Although he may be forced 

 to live in dirty places, he is himself perfectly clean, 

 taking great pains to clean himself with his hind legs, as 

 does the fly. He is clad in shining armour, which is 

 wonderfully tough and strong; his eyes are lively and 

 prominent. Even in his most joyous moments he is never 

 \r. L.-VII. I 



