The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-15

fights to the death. If a dozen or more ara
put IN vial for day you will soon per
ceiVe the remains of the dead and wounded
as result OF the compauiouship. The7
stand on their hind legs and buffet their
opponents with the others. Thew roll and
toss and tumble until it is pitable to see the
wrecks left behind. One champion lived
ten days with no sustenance, one eve gone.
tnree plates IN the side smashed in and only
Tue nrst joints OF four legs to 90 upon
But ne was game till the last and died short
ly after, still breathing defiance. Perhaps
the worst species of the flea known to man
Is the pulex penetrans. which is found in
south America and the West Indies. The
tehaies OF TINS species penetrates the feet of
us victims and there deposits its eggs and
as the process OF penetration is described as
being rather pleasant sensation than
otherwise, care is often not taken soon
enough. for as soon as the larva begins to
De lmpregnated with life the place where
tne eggs were laid becomes fostering sac
frequently rendering amputation necessary
and occasionally causing death.
There is one consolation regarding the
pulex irrltans, mans great tormentor
throughout the world; the female of this
species arely lays more than a dozen eggs
she deposits them in some dirty or dusty
place on the floor or underneath a nail: the
larvae before Matching have frontal point
used In breaking the shell of the egg six
DAYS after deposition of the eggs. Small
worm-like, jointed larvae without feet
creep forth from them. In eleven days
they envelop themselves in cocoon, from
which, at the expiration of eleven days
more, they emerge perfect animasl eager
for the occupation of tormenting mankind,
even as their parents were before them,
We have all heard or seen performing
feas, which are supposed to have been
tanned by their owners, but a tame flea is
practically an imposslbillty, aud the sole
object of captivated flea is to once more
regain his liberty. There are numerous &C.
counts given of the great exploits of tame
heas, but no flea was ever yet tanned. Mouf-
fet tells us of mechanic named Marks, who
made gold chain as long as his finger, with
lock and key, which a flea dragged after
him, and there was golden chariot which
be drew likewise. Bingley mentions that
Mr.. Boverick, matchmaker in the Strand
exhibited an ivory chaise with four W cells
the figure of a man sitting on the box, oil
drawn by flea. The same man afterward
constructed a tandem with figures of six
horses harnessed to it, coachman on the
box, dog between his legs, four persons
inside, two footmen behind and position
on the fore horse, all Of which were drawn
by single flea.
1t is an erroneous belief that fleas can
convey poison from one body to another,
but such is not the case.
While it is difficult to understand the util-
ity Of the Pulex irritans and the pulex PEN
etrans, it IS certain that the cat flea and the
dog flea are essential to the existence of the
animals on which they live, as they keep
the blood in proper circulation. 1t may be
that the pulex irritans, our common enemy
as we suppose him, is essential TO our exist
ence; let us hope 50 and try and feel happy
under the apparent infection.