Fleas in the dictionary

The discussion on the Discovery News Podcast about dictionaries got me thinking as to if this would answer the question of when the term "flea circus" was first used.

We know that back in Bertolotto's time the performances were not described as a circus but as an exhibit. We also know that Egon Erwin Kisch who was a fan of Charles Dicken's "Sketches by Boz" used the term "Flea Theatre" in his 1920s book "Die Abenteuer in Prag". In approximately 1901 strong man William Heckler took over an Orlando, Florida "Flea Theater" and John C. Ruhl also ran a "Flea Theater" at Hubert's. By 1925, the Heckler's had taken over with their "Trained Fleas", according to a show flier they were using the term "Trained Flea Circus" for their show in Time Square by 1934.

My initial searches brought up nothing, flea circus is not in the dictionary. I'm guessing that this is because it's a "phrase" not a "word". It's also not in the official list of scrabble words.

However a trip to Westminster reference library in my lunch break found the phrase in the 2007 6th Edition Oxford English Dictionary, the 2nd Edition Oxford English Dictionary and Chambers 11th Editionary Dictionary. The OED also suggested that the phrase was from US origins. Although the librarian did offer to search online for me, I did not have time on this visit. The librarian was also skeptical that the early editions of the dictionary would contain the phrase.

Fleas in the Discovery News

The chaps over at Discovery News have been discussing the jumping flea research from the researchers at the University of Cambridge.



This naturally lead to a discussion of flea circuses and if they really used fleas.

The producer got in contact with me to clarify some points so hopefully tomorrow's pod cast will have some more flea circus facts.

You can listen for free on Itunes or on their podcast.

Flea Places

There are many places named after fleas around the world.


View Flea Places in a larger map

In the USA, fleas are popular for placenames.

Fleaville, Shasta County (which unfortunately no longer exists)
Flea Creek, Montana
Flea Hill, Delaware
Flea Hop, Elmore County, Alabama

In the south there are places also named after the Spanish word for fleas, "Las Pulgas", and a good few flea places in Spain too.

Las Pulgas Canyon and Las Pulgas Road in Camp Pendleton
"Rancheria de las Pulgas", San Diego

Avenida de las Pulgas ("Avenue of the Fleas"),

If we look at the French name for flea, Puce there are a few places, firstly in Canada and also in France.

Puce, Ontario
Pucé, 69670 Vaugneray, France

Down in New Zealand, the fleas get a nautical theme, not to be mistaken for the popular internet auction site.

Flea Bay, New Zealand

Flea foot power transfer

The mystery of how fleas jump resolved thanks to Professor Malcolm Burrows and Dr Gregory Sutton from the University of Cambridge Department of Zoology.

Back 1967, Henry Bennet-Clark made the discovered of resilin, the 'elastic' protein that fleas use to store the energy for jumping, however since then flea scientists have been debating how that energy was transferred into the ground to allow the flea to reach such speeds and hights.



The Cambridge scientists used low light conditions which kept the fleas calm whilst they setup the cameras then turned up the lighting to see them jump. The videos were analysed and mathermatical models were used to predict the results.

Sutton and Burrows suspected that the insects push down through the tibia (shin) onto the tarsus (toe). Using a mathematical model that could reproduce the flea's trajectory, the scientists were able to confirm that the insects transmit the force from the spring in the thorax through leg segments acting as levers to push down on the tarsus (toe), solving the 44 year old mystery.

Ref:

• University of Cambridge Department of Zoology
• Cambridge Univeristy News and Events - Jump of a flea
• University of Oxford - The First Description of Resilin

Flea Circus - The Flying Starts

The latest from Michael & Maria of the Flying Starts is a big top and a side show of flea oddities such as the Flea Mason and Vivaldi and his four flea sons.



The Flying Starts
www.flea-circus.co.uk
Scotland

Roman Flea Circus

Eric from the Svenson's flea circus has a new style of Flea Circus, the Roman Circus Minimus.



The fleas live in a little Roman villa (the door opens when they come out to do a show).

"Bigus Bitus" pulls a chariot around the ring, there are a selection of Roman themed acts such as the highwire and trapeze. Bitus the strong flea also rolls tiny a barrel of wine up a ramp and off the end.

Fleasar kicks a ball (Pila) into a goal, yes roman football (Harpastum), and Jumpus does the high dive into a pool of icy cold water.

There is also have a flea that lifts a little pole/standard into the upright position.

The grand finale is Jumpus being fired from a Ballista (large roman crossbow) and he hits a little target in the shape of a roman shield.

Eric's armour is historically correct (and VERY heavy) and Eric is learning Latin incase there are questions from the audience.

For more information visit Svenson's Roman Flea Circus.

The Fantastical Flea CircusLatoya Newman re

For a few more nights you can see the The Fantastical Flea Circus at the The Catalina Theatre on Wilson’s Wharf in Durban.



Fleologist Dr Dhaveshan (Dhaveshan Govender) and world famous opera singing sensation, Duchess de Budhoo (Shika Budhoo).

Latoya Newman reports:

"After having written his award winning two-page fleasis on everything you need to know about fleas, Dr Dhaveshan (Dhaveshan Govender) is now travelling about town to bring children The Fantastical Flea Circus which has now stopped for a run at The Catalina Theatre.

Catch Flea-Anne on the trapeze; Bruce-flea the world’s strongest flea, Flearoy and his cannonball stunt and the great Fleadini and his disappearing act.

Clinton Marius (writer/director) has put together a funny and entertaining show for his first-time kiddies production."