30 THE INSECT WORLD. 



flea pierces the skin, irritates it, and causes the blood on which 

 it lives to flow. 



This bite, as every one knows, is easily recognised by the pre- 

 sence of small darkish red spots, surrounded by a circle of a paler 

 colour. The quantity of blood absorbed by this little creature is 

 enormous when compared with its size. 



The body of the flea is divided into thirteen segments, of which 

 one forms the head ; three the thorax, which is short ; and the 

 remainder the abdomen. 



The limbs are long, strong, and spiny. The tarsus, or foot, has five 

 joints, and terminates in hooks turned in opposite directions. The 

 two anterior limbs are separated from the others, and are inserted 

 nearly under the head ; the posterior ones are particularly large 

 and strong. 



The jumps which fleas are able to make are really gigantic, and 

 the strength of these little animals quite herculean when compared 

 with the size of their bodies. The reader may be inclined to smile 

 at the assertion that the flea possesses herculean strength ; but 

 let him wait a little, and he will find that it is no exaggeration. 



To give some idea of the strength, the docility, and the good- 

 will of the fleas, some wonderful little things have been made, 

 which have served at the same time to show the astonishing skill 

 of certain workmen. 



In his " Histoire abrigee des Insectes," published in the seventh 

 year of the French Republic, Geoffroy relates that a certain Mark, 

 an Englishman, had succeeded, by dint of patience and art, in 

 making a gold chain the length of a finger, with a padlock 

 and a key to fasten it, not exceeding a single grain in weight. A 

 flea attached to the chain pulled it easily. The same learned 

 writer relates a still more surprising fact. An English work- 

 man constructed a carriage and six horses of ivory. The 

 coachman was on the box with a dog between his legs, there were 

 also a postillion, four persons in the carriage, and two servants 

 behind, and the whole of this was drawn by one flea. 



In his " Histoire Naturelle des Insectes Apteres," Baron "Walck- 

 enaer relates the following marvellous instance of industry, 

 patience, and dexterity : 



" I think it is about fifteen years ago, that the whole population of 



