v] HUMAN FLEA AND OTHER SPECIES 73 



of a bristle. A little paper object stuck on its back 

 is termed by courtesy an equestrian or a ball-dress. 

 The lively imagination of the spectators is of great 

 help. The strength of a flea is wonderful, and on 

 being placed on a sheet of blotting-paper, so that the 

 hooks of the feet get a hold, the coach travels at a 

 fine pace. In the intervals of the performance the 

 coach is turned over, and the performer with its feet 

 in the air does not get exhausted with needless 

 struggles. Or else the fleas are fixed head upper- 

 most, with their legs extended horizontally, to an 

 upright wire driven into the table. Ladies have fans 

 of tissue paper gummed to their limbs. Gentlemen 

 are in the same way supplied with swords made out 

 of fine segments of wire. When two swordsmen are 

 placed opposite each other and the table is knocked 

 they move their limbs. The swords then clash by 

 chance, and we have a representation of a duel not 

 much worse than may be seen in provincial or even 

 London melodrama. 



More wonderful are dancing fleas, for there we 

 have a real representation of a ball-room filled with 

 waltzers. The orchestra of fleas, all securely fixed 

 with cement, is placed above a little musical-box. 

 The music proceeds from the box, but the vibrations 

 make the fleas gesticulate violently over their musical 

 instruments. The dancers spin round on the ball- 

 room floor. The couples are fastened by a rigid bar 



