The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-08-29
Fieas Under the Microscope.

s
blood-thirsty and tormenting little ami
NAL, yet few know its real shape and
figure, the structure, strength and
beauty of it's limbs and various parts, or
the manner of its generation and in
crease-ci circumstances discoverable only
by the assistance of the microscope.
The fea's body is oval, composed OF
shelly scales, curiously jointed, and
folding over each other; those on the
back meeting on each side those that
cover the belly, lying alternately over
one and under another. Its neck is
finely arched, resembling Holsters tail,
and moving very nimbly by the jointing
and folding of the scales. The head is
small and shelly asquick, round and
beautiful biaek eye on each side; in the
middle is b round black spot, the pupil,
eneompassed with greenish glittering
circular iris; as brig Inland vivid as the
eye of a cat. Behind each eye is asmall
cavity, with d certain thin, moving film,
fbeset with many small transparent hairs,
probablvthelearsg From the snout pro-
coed the two forelegs, between which
ARE two long feelers, each having four
Joints and much hair below, and almost
between ltheseis the proboscis or piercer,
consisting of q tube and a tongue, or
sucker, protrusive or ,contractile at
pleasure, It has also q couple of darts
or lancets, shaped and opening like the
blades Of q pair Of round Hoped scissors,
with which it penetrates the skin of liv-
ing creatures, and leaves q round, red
spot, commonly termeda hea-bite. All
the shells and scaly coverings are
exquisitely polished, and in color re
semble fine tortoise shell; along the
middle 5. scale 4on the back and
belly is row of strong, sharp bristles,
pointing toward the tail, like the quilts
Of porcupine, and as large in proper
ton to the animal. The neck and
shoulders are similarly armed, and num-
bers of bristles are placed about the tail.
But the curious structure and contriv-
ance of its legs more particularly de-
serve our examination and admiration,
as not discoverable in any other crea.
ture, and particularly adapted to the
exigencies Of the flea; for as the flea
| lives by sucking the blood of animals
which is not obtained without inffictine
wounds and causing pain, necessarily
productive of resentment and a desire
of reveng O, it isIrequisitea for the little
| invader to possess some ready means o.
escape; else every meal must be paid
for with its life. Being without wing
its safety must be entirely owing to i'll
legs and they are most astonishinglJ
/ fitted for this purpose. A short ont
/ folds within the other, and by stretching
them to their whole length, with a sud
den spring or jerk, they commonly de
liver the little animal from the danger
of pursuit. To leap the flea folds nj
its six legs, and extends them all at TIL
same instant; and its whole strength
being thereby exerted, at once, the it'll
body is carried to "a considerable dis
lance. The legs, like those OF fly
have three principal and larger stron,
parts, and below them many small joint
or divisions from which proceed Ion.
hairs or bristles; and each foot has
: pair of hooked claws or talons.. the bet
ter in its leaping to fasten and cling t
what he lights upon Newcastle Eng.
Chronicle. ~ 80 ss i.ssg5s4,s,s