LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 127 



Jlunt M. How does it look ? 



Jlnna. It has a little round head, and large 

 eyes, and its body is long and roundish ; there 

 are its feelers, too, looking just like little fea- 

 thers: but what is that little thing growing out 

 between them, right in the middle of its fore- 

 head? 



Jiunt M. That is the proboscis, the instru- 

 ment through which it sucks the blood. It 

 stands straight up and thrusts this little sucker 

 into the flesh, and when it has completely filled 

 itself, instead of going away satisfied, it begins 

 to throw off the blood, and suck again ; and if 

 it does not happen to be killed or driven away, 

 it will continue for hours sucking and throwing 

 it off. 



Harriet. Now let me see; what curious, 

 hairy-looking legs it has ! 



Jlunt M. Those legs are powerfully strong, 

 and have several joints ; and when the flea is 

 prepared to leap it folds them up closely, and 

 then lets them all spring out at once, which 

 throws its body to a very great distance. It has 

 been calculated that if a man possessed the 

 strength and agility of a flea, in proportion to 



