The Industrious Fleas

This bill advertises an exhibition of 'The Industrious Fleas', to be held at the Cosmorama Rooms, 209 Regent Street in June 1836. Billed as 'the greatest curiosities in London', the 'Industrious fleas' were a group of performing fleas who undertook a range of tricks. As listed on the bill the exhibition included the flea sailors who performed their duties on board a ship floating in water, the flea rope dancers and flea musicians each of whom played a different musical instrument.

19th century London offered an unparalleled variety of weird and wonderful spectacles. Performing creatures of all kinds were popular, including diving horses and singing mice.