2 PULICTD^E. 



posed of seven distinct segments. Legs long, the hind pair formed for 

 leaping ; coxse large ; femora stout ; tibiae setose ; tarsi with two strong 

 claws. 



Yery few insects are more generally known than the Plea ; and 

 for a more detailed history of it, the following authors may be 

 especially consulted : Leuwenhoeck, Hosel, De Geer, Latreille, 

 Defrance, Duges, Bouche, Strauss -Durckheim, Newman, and 

 Westwood. The South American Chigoe or Jigger, Pulex pene- 

 trans, L. (genus Sarcopsylla, Westw.), is much more injurious, 

 for it buries itself beneath the skin, and sometimes causes morti- 

 fication. The eggs of the common flea are large, white, oval. 

 The larvae are long and vermiform, with thirteen segments ; the 

 head is rather longer than the other segments, and somewhat at- 

 tenuated in front, and has two short one-jointed antennae; the 

 anal segment is furnished with two slightly curved appendages. 

 They feed on animal matter, whether on the bodies of birds and 

 beasts, or cast off. The pupa is inactive, and generally enclosed 

 in a silken cocoon. The following specific descriptions are mostly 

 translated from Bouche. 



1. irritans, L. S. N. ii. 1021 (1753); F.; Gmel.; Scop.; Leach; 

 Duges ; Bouche ; Guer. Piceo-fusca, capite nitente Itsvi sparse et sub- 

 tiliter punctato, pedibus pallidioribus, femoribus posticis intus ciliatis, 

 tarsorum anticorum articulo secundo posticorum primo longissimo. Long. 

 1 lin. 



THE COMMON FLEA. Abdomen above with two stout apical diverging 

 bristles. Coxae very broad, flat, with short bristles above. Femora equally 

 broad, flat, somewhat thicker than the coxae, with short hairs, fore pair 

 with two stout apical bristles above, hind pair fringed with bristles on the 

 inner side. Tibice and tarsi with stout apical spines. Ungues fringed 

 beneath with little spines. The joints of the tarsi in relation to their com- 

 parative length have the following succession in the fore pair, 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 

 and in the hind pair, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4. 



Generally distributed. (E. S. I.) 



2. Canis, St.; Duges A. S. N. 163. 2. pi. 4. f. 2-5 (1832); 

 Bouche ; Steph. ; Curt. terrestris ? Macq. Pallide piceo-fusca, capite 

 nudo nitente Icevi sparse et subtiliter punctato, coxis et femoribus fere nu- 

 dis, tarsorum anticorum articulo quinto posticorum primo longissimo. 

 Long, f lin. 



Resembles P. irritans, but is smaller and paler, and has shorter legs ; 

 coxes slightly bristly. Femora almost bare. Tibice thicker than in P. 

 irritans. Joints of the fore tarsi in relation to their comparative length, 

 5, 2, 1, 3, 4 ; of the hind tarsi, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4. Ungues of the male broad, 

 and fringed with black spines on both sides. 



Infests the dog and the fox. (E. S. I.) 



3. Gallinse, Schr. F. B. iii. 195 (1798); Bouche. Piceo-fusca, 



