Abstract
To summarize our principal observations made in the course of the investigation into the rat-fleas of the suspected plague area of East Suffolk, July—October, 1911:(1) We found an average of four fleas per rat: 822 rats were examined and 3293 fleas taken.(2) The average was subject to a local variation (0·6 to 6·5).(3) 15 species of fleas were taken from the rats, but of these there were only two species, C. fasciatus and C. agyrtes, which occurred in any numbers.There were C. fasciatus 1986 or about 60 per cent.C. agyrtes 1257 or about 38 per cent.Rare species 50 or about 2 per cent.(4) The average number of fleas per rat and the percentage of rats infested by fleas showed a well-marked seasonal variation, there being a considerable decline in the numbers as the cooler weather came on. Ceratophyllus fasciatus and Ctenophthalmus agyrtes both participated in a similar way in this variation.(5) C. fasciatus is chiefly found on rats caught near human habitations; C. agyrtes on those caught in the hedgerows.
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