TLEA. 355 
Lucy. How is it able to do so ? Its 
legs must be fitted for tbat purpose, I 
suppose, like tbose of tbe grasshopper. 
Mother. The grasshopper is assisted 
in leaping by its wings ; but the exploits 
of the flea are entirely the result of mus- 
cular action. It has six legs, two of 
them are jointed to the head, and be- 
tween these are placed two antennae, or 
feelers, of four joints each, as well as the 
proboscis, or sucker, with which it pierces 
the skin ; the other four are attached to 
the breast, and all the legs are divided 
into three principal joints. When the 
ftnimal jumps it shuts up these joints 
close together, so that the thighs are 
brought down close to the shanks ; and 
the legs are so folded, one within the 
other, that the effort is made by all ex- 
actly at the same moment. The lower 
joint of the legs is composed of four or 
five smaller divisions, and terminates in 
two sharp hooked claws, which enable it 
to cling securely on whatever substance it 
may chance to alight. Their eyes are 
