468 THE COMMON FLEA. 



by a Flea. He likewise had a chain of brass, aboat 

 two inches long, containing two hundred links, with 

 a hook at one end, and a padlock and key at the 

 other, which the Flea drew very nimbly along. 



This little animal is produced from eggs which 

 the females stick fast, by a kind of glutinous matter, 

 to the roots of the hairs of cats, dogs, and other ani- 

 mals; or to the wool in blankets, rugs, or other 

 similar furniture. Of these eggs the female lays 

 ten or twelve a day, for several days successively ; 

 and they are hatched in the same order five or six 

 days after being laid. 



From the eggs come forth, not perfect fleas, but 

 little whitish worms, or maggots, whose bodies 

 have annular divisions^ and are thinly covered with 

 long hairs. They adhere closely to the body of the 

 animal, &c. on which they were produced ; and feed 

 on the scurfy excretion of the skin, the downy sub- 

 stance of linen, &c. They are about a fourth of 

 an inch in length, and without feet ; but they are, 

 notwithstanding, very lively and active. When 

 alarmed they suddenly roll themselves up into the 

 shape of a little ball. They may be kept in a little 

 box, and brought up with dead flies, which they 

 eat with greediness. 



In eleven days from their being hatched, they 

 leave off" eating, and lie as though they were dying j 

 but, if viewed in this state with a microscope, they 

 will be found weaving a silken covering around 

 them, in which they are to change into their chry- 

 salis form. They continue nine days in this shape 

 at first white, and afterwards by degrees darkening; 



