62 Insect Life : Its Why and Wherefore 
to the size of its body. It has two 
small antennae, or feelers. Its mouth parts 
are so formed as to give it a species of 
puncturing lancet, with which it is enabled 
to pierce the skin, causing blood to flow. 
This lancet is surrounded or covered by a 
proboscis, or suction tube, by which the 
insect draws up and feeds upon the blood. 
It has generally a healthy appetite, and 
in proportion to its size consumes very 
copious draughts of its favourite beverage. 
If anyone has ever tried catching one, 
they will not have failed to perceive that 
its gymnastic powers are well developed, 
and that its means of evading your grasp 
are considerable. On close examination 
one rather puzzling characteristic is 
observable. In many forms of jumping 
beetles the hind femora, or thighs, are 
specially adapted for their peculiar means 
of progression. This does not seem to be 
the case with the flea, though the leg 
proper is made for that purpose. Its 
jumping powers are certainly most wonder- 
ful. It springs quite 200 times its own 
length, and at times exceeds this distance. 
Some notion of what this means may be 
