554 THE fle; 



Gi.NU3 V. — Pulex. ^he Flea. 



1 HIS genus confifls of two fpecies, which are character- 

 ifed bj fix feet formed for leaping ; filiform anteriOce ; 

 a roftrum bent inward;;, fetacsous, and concealing a fting : 

 The abdomen is laterally comprefled, and covered with 

 imbricated lamincs *. 



This tribe, like the preceding, is blood- thirftj, and 

 fattens at the expcnce of the human race. It is faid to 

 prefer the more delicate fkin of women ; but feeds neither 

 upon epileptic perfons, upon the dead, nor the dying. 

 Other animals, as well as man, fufFer by its intrnfions. It 

 neftles in the fur of dogs, cats, and rats ; and the nefts of 

 the river fwaliow fwarra with them f . 



Tulex irritans, the bed Ilea. In "this animal, the an- 

 tenn32 are longer than the thorax ; the body ol a. dark 

 brown colour, and of an oval form ; it is apterous, walks 

 but little ; but by the elallicity of its legs, can fpring 

 above two hundred times the length of its own body. 

 From microfcopic obfervations which have been made 

 upon this animal, it has been found to be oviparous!. The 

 eggs are depofited en blankets, or among the down of 

 animals ; they are round and fmooth ; and in four or five 

 days, give birth to a very minute worm, which feeds 

 upon grecify fur. After having crept about in this larva. 



Hate 



* Sy.H. Nat. p. 1021. + 8>'ll, Nat. du Piegne Animalc,p. 23X-. 



