194 Of the Flea, 
It has been difcovered, by putting the 
Eggs of Fleas in a fmall Giafs Tube, and 
keeping it con flan tly warm in one’s Bofom, 
that, in the midft of Summer, they hatch 
in four Days : then, feeding the Maggots 
with dead Flies, which they fuck greedily, 
in eleven Days they come to the full Perfec¬ 
tion of their reptile State : when the Maggot 
fpins its Bag, and in four Days more changes 
into a Chryfalis; after lying in which Con¬ 
dition nine Days, it becomes a perfect Flea . 
It is then immediately capable of Coition, 
and in three or four Days lays Eggs. So 
that in * twenty-eight Days a Flea may 
come from the Egg itfe-lf, and propagate its 
Kind : and their vaft Increafe will not feem 
fo great a Wonder, if we confider, that 
from March to December there may be feven 
or eight Generations of them. After having 
laid their Eggs they foon die, as all Creatures 
do that undergo fuch like Changes. 
By keeping Fleas in a Giafs Tube corked 
at both Ends, but fo as to admit frefh Air, 
their feveral Adiions may be obferved, and 
particularly their Way of coupling, which is 
performed Tail to Tail, the Female (which 
is much the larger) Handing over the Male. 
They will alfo be feen to lay their Eggs, not 
all at once, but ten or twelve in a Day for 
* Vid. Arc, Nat . Tom. IV. p. 325. 
2 
feveral 
t- ■ 
