THE COMMON FLEA 261 



fresh blood, they became drowned in it when small 

 quantities that had been extracted from a pigeon were 

 offered them. He found, on the other hand, that they 

 fed readily on the bodies of gnats, and on dried and 

 pulverised blood, and these observations have since been 

 confirmed by other observers. Bearing these facts in 

 mind, then, it is evident that, quite apart from the 

 parasites of our domestic quadrupeds themselves, rugs, 

 mats, or carpets, on which such animals lie, are likely, 

 by the accumulation there of hairs, fragments of skin, 

 &c., to constitute an environment eminently adapted to 

 the propagation of human fleas, the larvae of which would 

 find there excellent pasturage. In this connection may 

 be quoted an experience of Professor Westwood, who 

 discovered some larvae in a very unexpected way. He 

 says that, having dropped a very minute insect on the 

 floor of his library, close to the spot where one of his 

 spaniels was in the habit of lying, he was obliged, in 

 order to find it, to sweep the carpet very carefully with 

 a fine brush upon a piece of white paper. By so doing 

 he found the insect he was in search of, and at the same 

 time swept up what he was certainly not looking for, 

 some small, hairy, wriggling maggots, which he at once 

 recognised as flea larvae. From what he subsequently 

 states, the Professor seems to imply that these were the 

 larvae, not of the canine species, but of the human flea. 

 The frequent use of the broom, therefore, wherever cats 

 and dogs habitually take up their quarters, is eminently 

 desirable; and not the dustbin, but the fire, should be 

 the final destination of all rubbish so swept up. It is 

 obvious, also, that the frequent sweeping out and cleans- 

 ing of kennels, especially at the edges and in the corners 

 of the floor, would be helpful as a preventive measure 

 towards ridding dogs of fleas. 



