8 Educated Fleas. [ January, 
of intelligent action to these struggles are sufficiently ingen- 
ious. 
In the first place, each flea is attached to some object in such 
a manner that it cannot free itself, while the movements of its 
legs and feet are not hindered or embarrassed.’ 
This was explained by the proprietor. The surface of the 
insect is so polished that no cement will adhere to it when dry, 
and should a soft or waxy substance be used the insect dies very 
soon. (A probable cause of this might be the obstruction of 
the stigmata.) He stated that by tying a single silk fibre around 
the flea and knotting it on the dorsal side, a bristle, fine wire, or 
what not, may be cemented to the knot. I was not able to ob- 
serve exactly where the fibre encircled the insect. This part of 
the process is the most delicate and difficult to perform. 
The proprietor states that female fleas are solely employed by 
him, since the males are ** excessively mulish and altogether dis- 
inclined to work.” The fact that they are much smaller and 
weaker than the other sex is probably another and more impor- 
tant reason, and they are said to die in a few days when closely 
confined. 
The first preparation for their task is stated to be as follows: 
the wild flea is put into a small pill-box with a glass top and 
bottom, revolving on an axis like a lottery wheel and forming a 
miniature treadmill. After a few days’ confinement herein, the 
flea, which in a state of nature is, as we know, excessively in- 
clined to jump, becomes broken of the habit. It is said that the 
constant raps which it receives, when attempting to jump and 
thereby hitting the sides of its prison, incline it to walk. If this 
be true, and it might readily be tested by experiment, the flea’s 
education is entirely comprised in it, and, so far as it goes, it is a 
species of training. Iam not yet convinced of the accuracy of 
the statement. A “ wild” flea was shown, attached by one foot 
to a minute ball and chain, and certainly jumped continually. If 
a “tame” or educated specimen had been similarly weighted, and 
had showed no desire to jump, it would have indicated the truth 
of the theory, provided its legs were found to be sound. This, 
however, was not done, and all the “tame” ones, having some- 
thing on their backs, might thereby be affected differently from 
one confined only by one “ foot.” 
The performances may be divided into two classes: first, by 
fleas attached to a movable object ; and second, by fleas attached 
to an immovable object. The former (with one exception) are 
