Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-02-14
THE SNOW FLEA,
A Plague Of Siberian Wastes
Brought Here.
Philadelphia Record. ]

When the lamented Poet Traveller
Bayard Taylor wrote of snowfiakes as
'the wild white bees of winter" it is
doubtful that he imagined the pretty
fancy contained a large amount of
truth. Such, however, is the case, and
from recent important discoveries made
in this city by students and professors
of one of the academies it has been
shown that the beautiful snow of
poetry bids fair to become a provoking
reality. About three months ago there
arrived in this city box which, on be-
ing opened, apparently contained about
pint of snow. A note which accom-
panied it stated that the contents had
I been collected from the deck of the
British steamship Glenchester, during
a snow squall off the Banks of New
foundland, while on a voyage from
Hull to Montreal, and that the Cap
tain, Edwin Manning, had been advis-
ed to forward the specimens to the
Academy to be investigated. The
matter was kept quiet, and only within
the last day or so has the result be-
come public, and as it is undoubtedly
matter of considerable Importance
we print it at length. The examina-
| tion of the snowy looking stuff under
the microscope at once disclosed the
fact that it was composed of thousands
of very minute insects covered with
silyery scales, and nearly all in a Wig
orous state of health. A searching in
vestigation was at once set on foot,
and strict secrecy enjoined on all con-
cerned, and it was soon proved be-
yond a doubt that the insects We're
no less than the dreaded snow heas
of Eastern Siberia, which have never be-
fore been found in any part of the world
more than few hundred miles from
that country. A well-known professor
of natural history, who formed one Of
the investigating committee, said yes
terday: "The first specimens we receiv-
ed were sent from Montreal by ship
master named Manning, who discover
ed them on his ships deck on the At
lantic ocean, but we have found large
quantities Of them about the city dur
ing and after all the snow storms Of
this season. The snow-hea, or, to
give its scientific name, the Bisti-Sbe-
rias, belongs to the family of Produr-
d@, or "Spring-tails," and, although
very much smaller than the ordinary
black flea, closely resembles it in form
and habit, one great difference being
that while il is capable of leaping, it
does so by means of tail, and not as
the flea does-with its legs. The leap,
in the case of the snow-hea, is perform
ed by doubling the tail up under the
abdomen and suddenly throwing it
backward, which results in forward
movement of the body-in fact, it is
from this characteristic that the
name Spring-tail is derived.
They are very tenacious of
life, and breed very rapidly, especially
when the weather is cold and dry,
damp weather seeming to throw them
into stupor In Eastern Siberia the
people have to use every precaution
against the pests, and many legends
speak of them as the "snow Of Hades, :"
and say that the souls of the wicked
are being tortured by being exposed
to driving storms of them. "As yet,"
continued the Professor, 1--WE have
found but few cases in this city where
people seem to have been sufferers from
the insects, but should spell of cold,
dry weather set in it will unquestiona-
bly, be the signal for much complaint.
The insects, which can only by the
closest scrunity be distinguished from
fine snow, fasten to the clothes of Pc
dcstrians and cling there until the per-
son enters warm temperature, when
they at once begin to bite in the most
vicious manner, and, although the
bite is not poisonous, it is for few
moments even more painful than that
of the common flea. AS rule, the
bites are mainly confined to the legs,
for the snow-hea does not seem to pos
sess the power to climb and wander
over the body of its victim. One gen.
tleman, resident of Frankford, was a
few days since much annoyed by them,
and his little boy, who was bitten at
the same time, suffered great pain for
several hours. Correspondence with
scientific men in Montreal and Boston
show that the pests have also appear
ed at those points, and in the former
city have created great discomfort.
The strangest feature noticeable is the
fact that it is never found more than
eighteen inches above the ground,
and servant girls have often been
forced to wear rubber boots while
sweeping off sidewalks in front of their
masters residences. Professor James
McArchfeld, of this city, has prepared
an exhaustive article on the subject,
which will be read at the next meet
ing of the Academy.
rey1 The most brilliant shades pos:
shle, on all fabrics are made by the
Diamond Dyes. Unequaled for bril-
liancy and durability. lOc.
"A lady dropped in on one of her
neighbors for an afternoon call. "How
is your daughter she inquired.
Splendid. She has just got back from
the State Normal school, where she ciph-
cred clear through ambition to chemical
fractures, and then she took up pottery
and jobbery, and says she can specu-
late the internal calculations"
T. T. Spence, Millersvill e, Pa, says
"After three years experience with
Browns Iron Bitters l take pleasure
in recommending it."
Outrageous stories are being cir
culated regarding the recently elected
Senator Tabor, Of Colorado. One is to
the effect that he wears an deliberately
embroidered velvet nightcap, and q
nightshirt trimmed with the eostliest
noint lace and ruffles. A lady who