FLEAS. 



15 



their maggot state amongst the productions of the 

 skin of their host — amongst scurf and humours that 

 may be present. 



These minute white ' nits ' in a week or ten days 

 give rise to the larval fleas. On the bursting of the 

 egg-shell there appear at first very minute pearly 

 white maggots, which even in their very early life 

 have the head somewhat darker than the rest of the 

 bodv. Upon the head will be observed, with a 

 microscope, a curious kind of horn. This horn is for 

 the purpose of rupturing the egg-shell, so that the 

 maggots can more readily escape. When full-grown 

 these flea larvae (fig. 3j reach one-sixth to one-fourth 



Fig. 3. 



%^'' *>4.fxp> V^Y^'.T ^ 



Larva and Pupa of Hen-Flea. 



of an inch in length. They remain pearly white 

 durino- their whole existence, which mav extend to 

 even three weeks. Their length of life, however, 

 seems to depend a great deal upon the temperature, 

 for in warm weather or warm places the larvaa may 

 become full-grown in ten davs, or at least two weeks. 



