The Washington herald., 1915-03-28

Ard little heas have lesser feas. and % nd
inhnitum.
THE old quotation in the Budget of
Paradoxes" never had a comfortable
sound. although, perhaps, many per
sons regarded this picture OF the flea
world in the light of little fiction. But
now the scientific student comes along and
tells us that Charles Rothschild, who is
famed as an entomologist, has a private
collection of something like 100000 speci-
mems of feas at his house at Tring in
England. and furthermore. that more than
400 different species of flea have already
been discovered. while many undiscovered
species still remain.
These extraordinary facts and figures
regarding the elusive and irritating flea
are given by Harold Russell, of London,
IN his book. The Flea" who says that,
so far as he is aware no book devoted to
what is known about feas has ever been
published in English As Mr. Russell
truthfully says. The mere mention of
feas is not only considered a subject for
merriment. but in some people produces.
by subjective suggestion, violent irrta-
ion of the skin
But il is safe to affirm that no irritation
will be felt by those who read Mr.. RusseIIs
unique book, which betrays close and
prolonged study of our enemy. the flea:
lot HIS ldCIS ana lUIOTrndIlCn are as IN
tresting TO the curious as they are valuable
to the scientist One fact stands out
nrominently--namely, that there is not
much likelihood of a diminution in the
hirthrate in flea land, for Mrs. Flea lays
her eggs all the year round, from one to
FIVE at a time. But, like many other in
SectS and mammals. she is calOuS as to
the fate of her Offspring. for she takes no
interest whatever in her eggs. and leaves
her youngsters to shift for themselves
from the day of their birth
To the average persons it will doubtless
-ome as a surprising piece of information
that there are Catholic and Protestant
feas. Some feas. says Mr. Russell. are
more catholic in their tastes than others.
Some seem to be strictly confined TO one
host. although at the same time. he re-
marks, No f1eas are more than what is
Halled temporary parasites. which means
hat they pass but a portion of their lives
On their hosts. and frequently take occa-
. sion to hop on and off. All ffeas apparent
Y so from host to host"
But although they may occasionally pass
from one species of host to another. they
10 not. for the most part, seem to flourish
n uraCcustomed quarters. For that rea-
son a hurTan flea is only sometimes found
m cats and dogs. and cat and dog feas
only occasionally on human beings. One
II the most curious facts regarding ami
NAL foaS is that all beasts Of prey are
sometimes found to harbOr the feas Of
animals they have devoured"
Perhaps however, the most astounding
Information which Mr.. Russell gives in his
book is TO the effect that monkeys hHv"
no fpas. This" he saws. is an asSor-
ton that is commonly received with sur
prise and incredibly. hut healthy mon
keys are much too clean and active to
harhOr f1eaS. and when thew are seen
searching ono another's fur in a fashion
hat must he familiar 70 most persons. it
only to clear their skin of any particles
" sCurf and dirt"
II might also he mentioned hat only one
Instance has been recorded Of 4 Rea occur
ring on n reptile. This vas on a brown
snake which was captured nCHr Perth. in
West Australia. and which vas found to
have a flea. probably from som" small
mammal Il had d"vourHd. firmly fixed be-
.ween tine SCaly plates o. thH reptile.
Tn" history Of The H. would seem to so
back many centuries, but the only fossil
remains OF q flea that Eov". so far. been
discovered are 4 single insect in piece
Of Baltic amber The He,i. according to
Mr.. Russell bow rnNn;" arc tn" chances
that 4 flea should oct omh"dded in amber
md should subsequently, ho G"t.., ed and
described by 4 uafUr2 list. v" my " "l!
understand that he owner asked hut
aithout sUcceSsN So. o"H for il"
There is. how",or a vorv serious. -
we'll As curious a~prrr to t., >tu..v cf tho
7cs. aud N~. Bu.-oir pojr'S on- t'a' ~"
scientific study O. fo-r his r"''r.rly -
~eived a great imU"'us since j. h". been
aSccrfained that they arc active agents
spreading disease II Is for his reason
nat Mr. RussclTs book. which for he first
inc provides us with "omplet" know