52 PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



of animals, including the dog, cat, rabbit, pigeon, and poultry, 

 and are often a nuisance to man. 



The jigger flea, or chigoe (Fig. 31) is a common pest of man 

 in tropical and subtropical countries. When ready to lay eggs, 

 the female burrows into the skin, usually of the feet, causing a 

 swelling which may become a dangerous ulcer. The best way to 

 get rid of this uncomfortable parasite is to prick out the entire 



FIG. 31. The jigger flea or chigoe: A, larva; B, adult; C, side view of 

 adult after a meal ; D, front view of same ; E, head and legs much magnified. 

 (After Karsten and Guyon.) 



insect, being careful not to break the body so as to free the eggs, 

 as this might lead to serious trouble. 



The cat and dog flea (Fig. 32) is very common in houses almost 

 all over the world. It is a minute reddish brown insect with a 

 row of black, toothlike spines on each side of the head. The 

 eggs (Fig. 32, B) are laid in the fur of the infested animal, but they 

 are not very firmly attached and when the cat or dog walks about, 

 they are widely scattered. A kitten thus infested is said to have 

 left fully a teaspoonful of eggs upon the dress of a lady in whose 



