CLASS I. INSECTA: ORDER 6. APHANIPTERA 683 
THE HIPPOBOSCID^. 
These include tlie Forest Flies, which attack various animals and suck their blood, producing 
the greatest irritation. The Hippobosca equina is exceedingly troublesome to horses : the 
Nycterihiidce confine their depredations to bats. Some species infest young birds and nearly 
drive them to distraction. 
ORDER 6. APHANIPTERA. 
This includes the Fleas, which, despite their minuteness, have made themselves a name in the 
world. The arterial covering is a horny compound of very distinct seg- 
ments', the wings are four, but nearly rudimentary; the suctional organs 
consist of a pair of fine, serrated, sword-shaped mandibles, provided with a 
sharp, needle-like spear for penetrating the skin of the victim. The larva 
FLEA MAGNIFIED CoMMON Flea, PuUx ivritans, is a long footless grub, with a horny 
^ head ; it is hatched from eggs laid by the female, generally in the neighbor- 
hood of animal matter. The larvae are active, and when they attach themselves to dogs or other 
animals they twist about among the hairs or feathers, feeding upon minute particles of animal 
matter. In about twelve days they are full grown. They then inclose themselves in a silky 
cocoon, and pass to the pupa state. In this condition the insect is quiescent, inclosed in a skin 
which fits over all parts of the body. The perfect insect emerges in about a fortnight. Most of 
the species of Fleas, or Pulicidce, are parasitic upon particular animals- — one of the largest being- 
found upon the mole.* 
A minute species, inhabiting the West Indies and South America, the Chigoe or Jigger, P. 
penetrans^ is remarkable for the habit possessed by the female of inserting herself beneath the 
skin of the foot, generally under the skin of the nails. In this situation her abdomen swells to 
about the size of a small pea, in consequence of the development of eggs in the ovaries, occasioning 
great pain and irritation of the part, and if not extracted in time the eggs are said to be hatched 
within the wound, producing extensive ulceration, and sometimes even causing death. The feet 
. of dogs are also attacked by this pest ; and it is said that the unfortunate creatures may often 
be seen rolling about and nibbling their toes in a state of the greatest agony, ^ 
ORDER 7. NEUROPTERA, 
This division includes a large number of very remarkable species called Nerve-winged Insects 
—the name of the order being derived from the Greek neuron, a nerve, and ptera, wings. 
THE PHRYGANEID^. 
These insects are noted for their complete metamorphosis; the Iarv» are aquatic, being long, 
softish grubs with six feet, defending themselves from fishes and other animals, by casing their 
bodies with straw, sticks, pebbles, and shells. Before passing to the pupa state, the larva fixes its 
case to some object in the water, then closes up the two extremities with a silken grating, through 
* Most of our readers are doubtless acquainted with the fact that fl«as have often been trained to perform various 
curious tricks, such as firing cannon, driving coaches, playing on the piano, &c. — all these articles being of proportions 
adapted to the minuteness of the operators. These are called Inditstrious Fleas, or Intellectual Fleas, and exhibi- 
tions of them have often taken place in the great cities of Europe and America. The following curious anecdote 
connected with one of these performances is furnished by a cori-espondent of the London Times : " The sovereign 
of one of the German States commanded the attendance at court of one of these exhibitions, and the performance of 
the fleas — some harnessed like horses, and others dressed to represent celebrated human characters — commenced. 
But soon the exhibitor became perturbed, looking hither and thither, searched through his repository, and stopped 
the performance with an apology that one of his chief performers, his Napoleon, had escaped, although he was safe 
when the acting began. ' Where can he be gone ?' said the king. The exhibitor looked uneasy but spoke not. 'Tell 
me,' said his majesty, interpreting his increasing confusion, ' what j^ou suspect.' ' If I may be so bold, your majesty, 
I believe he has taken refuge with the Princess H .' ' Then,' said the king, ' search shall be made ;' and the 
princess retired. After a while, she appeared with a captive, who was immediately put upon the stage. But, oh 
horror ! the exhibitor exclaimed — ' He is not my Napoleon ; he is a wild one !' " 
