PARTS OF INSECTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 



137 



Fig. 235. 



Fig. 234. 



cavities fringed with hairs, and which are supposed to be the ears. Below 

 the head are three jointed members, which are the feelers and piercer of the 

 insect. The piercer consists of a tube and tongue, and on each side of the 

 latter is a sharp lancet-like blade, with which the flea punctures the skin of its 

 victim. 



All the legs are fringed with hair, and are terminated by claws. In order to 

 leap, the flea folds up its six legs, and then instantaneously extending them, 

 makes its spring, exerting its whole strength atone effort. The body of the insect 

 is encased in an envelope consisting of overlapping plates, symmetrical in form 

 and arrangement. Along the back and under the belly, the plates are studdeu 

 with hairs, equally distant from each other, and ranged in a line along the middle 

 of the plate. The distance between two contiguous hairs in the "same row. is 

 about one-five hundredth part of an inch. The plates near the head are likewise 

 fringed with haira. 



