Pulex. Flea. 89 



and at its tail two spikes which like the hairs aid in progression. 

 About the eleventh day it spins a small silky cocoon in which it 

 moults, becomes a pupa and develops into a mature flea in 10 to 

 20 days. The ova, larvae, and pupae are found in carpets, rugs, 

 furniture, beds, kennels, barns, poultry houses, etc., as well as in 

 the open air where the victims lie, and in the nests of wild ani- 

 mals, fox holes, etc. Fleas are very predaceous and are not over 

 particular about the species of their victims, yet they show a 

 preference for given species and genera. The dog, cat, rabbit, 

 pigeon and chicken especially harbor the flea in their hair, fur, 

 or feathers. The parasite may even pass through all its trans- 

 formations on the body of the one animal when the skin is covered 

 with dirt or diseased products. Parasitism is not obligatory as 

 they will live long in empty buildings, fox holes, etc. 



Pulex (Ceratopsyllus) Serraticeps : Dog Flea, is charac- 

 terized by the presence on the lower margin of the head and the 

 posterior margin of the prothorax on each side of 14 to 18 black 

 toothlike spines. This is the most common flea of dog, cat and 

 man. It is interesting as a common host of the larva of the 

 taenia canina of the dog. 



Pulex Irritans. Flea of Man, is distinguished by its darker 

 brown color, and by the absence of the rows of teeth along the 

 lower border of head and prothorax. Common in dwellings in 

 Europe, this is said by Comstock to be rare in the United States. 



Pulex Goniocephalus : Flea of Rabbit and Hare, is char- 

 acterized by the angular front of the head, and by the presence of 

 5 or 6 teeth on the lower border of head and prothorax on each 

 side. 



Pulex Avium : Bird Flea. This is characterized by a round 

 head, destitute of teeth on its lower border, but having 12 to 13 

 on each side of the lower border of the prothorax. This attacks 

 pigeons and small birds especially, and is less troublesome for 

 poultry. 



Destructioh and Prevention. Railliet recommends to boil 

 a horse blanket used in the infested kennel, also the deluging of 

 kennels, poultry houses and dove cots with boiling water and then 

 littering them with fresh walnut leaves. Insect powder, staves- 

 acre, or wormwood will serve a similar purpose, or solutions of 

 creolin, lysol, cresyl, carbolic acid or oil of tar. Fresh pine shav- 



