53 



short ; consisting of three legs bearing 

 joints ; head small, compressed, rounded above., 

 and truncate before ; eyes minute, orbicular, 

 lateral ; antennae lamelliform, small, ciliated 

 with spirules, one -join ted at their base, in- 

 serted in two excavations behind the eyes \palpi 

 filiform (composed of four rounded joints) 

 scarcely longer than the head, porrect, gene- 

 rally resting on the rostrum ; legs strong, and 

 formed for jumping, especially the hinder ones ; 

 COXCB and thighs large, compressed ; tarsi elon- 

 gate, cylindric, composed of five simple joints, 

 the last articulation furnished with two long, 

 acute, and slender nails. [PL III, fig. 6.] 



The common Bed-flea is the best example of 

 this order. It is not generally known that 

 many birds and quadrupeds are much annoyed 

 by fleas, more especially the latter, and from 

 an examination of those taken from the mole, 

 squirrel, and bat, there is no doubt of their 

 being distinct species from the bed-flea: under 

 these circumstances, the fleas of birds and 

 quadrupeds should be carefully collected, and 

 the name of the animal whence it is taken 

 should be attached. These small animals should 

 be collected in quills, and killed in hot water : 

 E2 



