AMAZING VERSATILITY OF COMMON FLEA

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5324, 10 February 1947, Page 7

AMAZING VERSATILITY OF COMMON FLEA

Have you ever wondered how per-for-ming fleas are trained? Well, according to W. Buchanan-Taylor in a B.B.G. broadcast, it is jUst aj difficult as you would imagine it to be. First you catch the elusive flea, remembering that he holds the world record for jumping (it has been stated that if a man were equipped with spring heels of the same proportion to weight as the flea's, he could jump as high as St. Paul's Cathedral in London). Having got your flea arid put him in a nice little pill-box padded with cotton-wool, you take him to a watchmaker. A watchmaker is suggested because it is extremely unlikely that you will find a professional flea har- • nesser in your locality, the craft heing nearly extinct. If the watchmaker has a steady hand, as he should, he will ,put a very thin gold wire round the neck of the flea, leaving, as spare, about an inch and a half of the wire, which will be heavy enough to prevent the little fellow jumping. As an example of what can be done, fleas have been dressed and undressed, harnessed to miniature vehicles, fought dueji with swords, and indulged in boxing matches, fired miniature cannons, lived in 'kennels, walked tightropes, worked in model cemeteries, performed exhibition rescues from supposedly burning miniature houses, balanJld balls, and done balle# dancing and trick cycling.