FLEA. 857 
in looking at a flea, what wonders are 
contained in its tiny body ! 
Mother, Ignorance does indeed shut 
our eyes to the many beauties and many 
curiosities which are constantly before 
them. 1 have now only to add, that the 
proboscis is formed of a sharply pointed 
sheath, in each side of which there is a 
small slit. When our skin has been 
pierced by the sheath, little lancets are 
thrust out of the slits, and the blood, 
which then flows plentifully from the 
wound, is sucked up by the tongue, which 
it moves up and down inside the sheath. 
The flea is thus described. Pulex — 
antennae moniliform — eyes two — trunk 
taper — legs six, and formed for leaping — 
abdomen compressed. 
Lucy, Are there many species in this 
genus ? 
Mother, Only one known in this 
country, the pulex irritans. For though 
the fleas on dogs, cats, birds, and men, 
vary a little, yet there is no essential 
diflerence sufficient to mark a distinction 
