130 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



I have heard of a man who, being anxious 

 to study the history of these insects, permitted 

 a large number of them to establish themselves 

 in one of his feet ; but it was not long be- 

 fore his foot mortified, and had to be taken 

 off. 



We have none of these things to dread in our 

 country ; our fleas occasioning us no further 

 inconvenience than a little itching when they 

 come to make a meal upon us. 



Among the Indians, however, they are very 

 troublesome. My brother says that when they 

 remove from their tents, or wigwams, as they 

 call them, the ground for many yards around is 

 often completely covered by these insects. He 

 once rode out, with several of his friends, to see 

 a wigwam which had been deserted by its in- 

 habitants. His companions remained behind, 

 but he, forgetting the fleas, jumped from his 

 horse and entered the wigwam ; it was sum- 

 mer, and he was dressed in white, but he had 

 not been there many minutes before he was so 

 completely covered with fleas, that it would 

 have been difficult to tell the original color of 

 his clothes. He immediately ran to a consider- 



