1 8 Proceedings. 



enquiry from various gardeners, he found that it was not an 

 uncommon thing for a dunghill to get densely populated 

 with fleas in dry weather, but they disappear again when a 

 wet spell comes. 



From this Bowdon locality he had had a number of 

 specimens sent him, and had no difficulty in determining 

 that they were of two distinct species, the rat's and the 

 cat's ; and on mentioning these facts was informed that the 

 heap was much frequented by both rats and cats, so it is 

 evident from what hosts the fleas originally came. The 

 cat's flea is well known, so the comparison was easily made, 

 and Mr. Boyd had in his possession specimens of fleas 

 taken from a rat's nest with which some of the fleas taken 

 from the refuse heap tallied exactly. This flea of the rat 

 is very long and slender, colour very dark, nearly black, 

 legs short, antennae erect, and has a pectinate fringe at the 

 back of the head, but not at the anterior extremity of the 

 head. 



Mr. Boyd also mentioned that in the early summer he 

 found that some sparrows had taken possession of a martin's 

 nest, and were breeding in it ; accordingly he took down the 

 nest, which the martins afterwards rebuilt. He found this 

 nest was infested by small fleas, of the species commonly 

 found associated with fowls, pigeons, and other birds. 



The opinion was expressed that although the fleas of 

 other animals or of birds may cause some temporary 

 inconvenience to man, they will not stay with him or 

 trouble him long, as they do not breed on him, but only in 

 the bed of their respective hosts, or in other suitable 

 localities. 



Mr. Mark Stirrup read a paper on " Some arenaceous 

 Foraminifera from deep-sea dredgings," and exhibited a 

 large number of specimens under the microscope. 



