LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 129 



confined to the bed with a broken limb, and 

 was sadly annoyed by fleas. " Dear miss," 

 said she, " don't you like fleas ? Well I think 

 they are the prettiest, merriest little things in 

 the world ; I never saw a dull flea in all my 

 life.' 7 



In the West Indies, and some other warm 

 countries, there is a small sand flea, which 

 makes its way under the skin, particularly 

 under the toe nails ; and as it enters without 

 being felt, and causes no other sensation than 

 an unpleasant itching, it is sometimes neglected, 

 and suffered to remain until it becomes as large 

 as a pea. It lays its eggs under the skin, and 

 if they are not taken out, they hatch, and pro- 

 duce running ulcers. 



The natives are very dexterous in extracting 

 these fleas, or chigoes, as they call them; break- 

 ing the skin and carefully taking them out with 

 a needle. The removal of the eggs is a delicate 

 operation, as they are contained in a bag or 

 bladder, which, if not skilfully extracted, is apt 

 to break, and leave some of the eggs behind to 

 produce more chigoes. 



