APHANIPTERA. 331 



other places where dust, flue, particles of animal matter, 

 &c., afford a harbour to the eggs and both food and 

 lodgings to the larvae. They have been found swarming 

 at the mouths of the deserted holes of Sand Martins ; and 

 a traveller (Sir Howard Douglas ?) speaks of them as so 

 numerous in one place that if they had but been unani- 

 mous they might have pushed him out of bed. 



The Chigoe or Jigger of the West Indies and South 

 America is a species of Flea, and is far more objection- 

 able than any of our European species, from its habit of 

 burying itself in the skin, causing inflammation and 

 sores which are sometimes even fatal. 



A curious legend, preserved among a sect of Kurds 

 who dwelt at the foot of Mount Sindshar, is quoted by 

 the author of "Episodes of Insect Life," whence we will 

 borrow it verbatim : 



" When Noah's ark sprang a leak by striking against 

 a rock in the vicinity of Mount Sindshar, and Noah des- 

 paired altogether oi safety, the Serpent promised to help 

 him out of his mishap, if he would engage to feed him 

 upon human flesh after the deluge had subsided. Noah 

 pledged himself to do so, and the Serpent, coiling him- 

 self up, drove his body into the fracture and stopped 

 the leak. When the pluvious element was appeased, 

 and all were making their way out of the ark, the Serpent 

 insisted upon the fulfilment of the pledge he had 

 received; but Noah, by Gabriel's advice, committed 

 the Serpent to the flames, and, scattering its ashes in 

 the air, there arose out of them Flies, Fleas, Lice, Bugs, 

 and all such sorts of vermin as prey upon human blood, 

 and in this manner was Noah's pledge redeemed." 



