Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-07-06
The Wonderful Flea.

Let up put our flea under the micro
scope, says S l.. Clayes in the SIciSs
Cross 1t seems to be clothed in n sort
of armour formed of brown, overlap
ping plates that are so exceedingly
tough as TO be almost indestructible.
Its head is small and very thin, and it
has single eve upon each side. This
eye is black and the rays of light scin-
tillate within it like sparks of fire.
Puget managed 10 look through one
of these eyes, and he found that il di-
minished objects in size while il mul-
tiplied them in number, man APP
pearing like an army Of fairies, and
the flame Of candle becoming thou
sand tiny stars From the shape of
its head and for other reasons, the flea
is supposed TO use only one eye AT
time The offensive weapon of the
flea is composed of two palpi or feel
ers, two piercers and a tongue. When
it feeds it stands erect, thrusting this
sucker into the flesh, and it will eat
without intermiSsion until disturbed,
for it voids as fast as il swallows its
food. 1t is interesting 10 put several
in a glass, and giving them piece of
raw meat. see them all standing on
their hind legs to suck up its juices.
Their manner Of breathing is still
undetermined, but it is thought most
probable that they receive air into
their bodies through small holes at the
end of the palpi.
The legs of flea are marvels of
strength and elasticity. They are
joined TO the body by long tendons
that act like wire springs. In making
its leap, which, it is said, can cover
two hundred times its own length, the
flea draws the leg up close to the body
and then throws il out with great
force; but the impulse proceeds from
the first joint alone, the others only
increasing it by their stretch while the
leap is being made.
Fleas are possessed of great strength.
MoufTet tells of mechanic who made
a gold chain, as long as his, that a flea
dragged after him, and golden char
lot. which he drew also. Bingley
writes of matchmaker in the Strand
who had an ivory wheeled chaise,
1. - 4
flea. The same man afterwards
made IA carriage with six horses,
coachman, four persons inside, two
footmen behind, and position on
one Of the horses, all Of which was
drawn by single flea. Latriella men
tions flea which dragged a silver
cannon Of twenty-four times its own
weight, mounted on wheels, and
showed no fear when il was charged
with gunpowder and fired off. Rene
says that he saw three fleas drawing
a tiny omnibus; that a brass cannon
was dragged by single one.
There are several varieties OF ileas,
but they are so much alike that their
differences are interesting only to sci
entific people. The eat flea will doaS
well as any TO show us the process Of
breeding. During the spring and sum
mer months she simply drops her eggs
into the fur Of the eat but in the au-
tumn and winter she CLUES each firmly
upon a hair. These eggs are so small
as To be barely visible to the naked
eye, but under the microscope they
are very beautiful, looking like the
loveliest pearls, and are perfectly
translucent. The flea deposits nearly
two hundred at time, running about
and dropping them here and there.
They soon hatch into small, white,
footless worms. In from one to two
weeks they go into cocoon. Nothing
can be prettier than this cocoon. !
wish could show it 10 you. but will
try TO describe it. 1t is like flask Of
clear glass, tinged at the edges with
pearly tints, and dotted over with
gold. The little sleeper within lies in
II circle, is rose-colored, and looks like
the delicate petal Of a flower. In about
six weeks he reached maturity At
first he is not larger than mite, but
when well fed grows quickly in size
and strength.
Fleas are quarrelsome and great
fighters. When several are confined
in glass they will stand on their hind
legs. striking at their opponents with
the others, and roll over and over each
other, losing legs and antenne, and at
last giving up their lives in the fight.
There is a record Of q flea that lived
ten days after such an encounter with
no antenne, three plates Of his side
broken in, one eye gone, and with on
~ four legs, and these cut of to the
first joints.
Fleas are supposed TO feel great
antipathy 10 WOODWORK and other bit
ter herbs; and in England the coun-
try people have habit OF placing
these about their cottages for the pur-
pose Of banishing the lively little pests.
Things WelI-Bred Lady Avoids.