THE CHIGOE. 15 



Description Penetrates the skin. 



ever hurts them ; they seldom, therefore, seek for 

 hiding-places before the fall of the leaf, and are 

 alert enough to take the earliest advantage of the 

 returning spring. 



THE CHIGOE. 



THIS troublesome insect, which is a kind of 

 small sand flea, is so diminutive as to be almost 

 imperceptible. Its legs have not the elasticity 

 of those of fleas ; for had the chigoes their pow- 

 ers of leaping, there is not a living creature of 

 the climates where they abound that would not 

 be full of them ; and this lurking race would de- 

 stroy three fourths of mankind by the evils they 

 "Would produce. They are common in Surinam, 

 and in many parts of America, and are always 

 found among the dust, and particularly in filthy 

 places ; they fix themselves on the legs, to the 

 soles of the feet, and even to the fingers. 



The chigoe gets in between the skin and the 

 flesh, and generally under the nails of the toes, 

 in such a subtle manner, that at the time the 

 person is not sensible of it; nor is it to be per- 

 ceived till it begins to extend itself. At first it is 

 not difficult to extract it; but, although it may 

 only have introduced its head, it makes so firm a 

 lodgment that a part of the skin must be sacri- 

 ficed before it will quit its hold. If it be not 

 soon perceived, the insect completes its lodg- 



