"Thirty fleas went through military exercise, and stood upon their hind legs, armed with pikes, formed of very small splinters of wood.
"Two fleas were harnessed to and drew a golden carriage with four wheels and a postillion. A third flea was seated on the coach-box, and held a splinter of wood for a whip. Two other fleas drew a cannon on its carriage; this little trinket was admirably finished, not a screw or a nut was wanting. These and other wonders were performed on polished glass. The flea-horses were fastened by a gold chain attached to the thighs of their hind legs, which I was told was never taken off. They had lived thus for two years and a half, not one having died during the period. To be fed, they were placed on a man's arm, which they sucked. When they were unwilling to draw the cannon or the carriage, the man took a burning coal, and on it being moved about near them, they were at once roused, and recommenced the performances."
The learned fleas were the admiration and amazement of Paris, Lyons, and the chief provincial towns of France, in 1825.
But how, one will ask, was it possible in a large public room to see this wonderful sight? And it is necessary that this should be explained. The spectators were seated in front of a curtain, provided with magnifying glasses, through which they looked, as they would at a diorama of landscapes or buildings.
But let us return to the natural history of our insect. The female flea lays from eight to twelve eggs, which are of oval shape, smooth, viscous, and white.
Contrary to what one might think, à priori, the flea does not fix its eggs to the skin of its victims. She lets them drop on the ground, between the boards of floors, or old furniture, and among dirty linen and rubbish.
M. Defrance has remarked that there are always found mixed with the eggs a certain number of grains of a brilliant black colour, which are simply dried blood. This is a provision which the foreseeing mother has prepared at our expense to nourish her young offspring.
In four or five days in summer, and in eleven days in winter, one may see coming out of these eggs small, elongated larvæ, of cylindrical form, covered with hair, and divided into three parts, the last provided with two small hooks. The head is scaly above, has two small antennæ, and is without eyes. These larvæ are without limbs, but they can twist about, roll themselves over and over, and even advance pretty fast by raising their heads. Though at first white, they become afterwards of a reddish colour.
About a fortnight after they are hatched they cease to eat, and are immovable, as if about to die. They then commence to make a small, whitish, silky cocoon, in which they are transformed into pupæ. In another fortnight these pupæ become perfect insects.