Siphonaptera (poem)

"The Siphonaptera" is a nursery rhyme, sometimes referred to as Fleas.

Big fleas have little fleas,
Upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas,
and so, ad infinitum.

It is credited to Dean Swift "IX. Water Life". Outdoor Sports and Games. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |eBook= ignored (help), though his words do not rhyme as well as the above version when literally translated to English.

"So naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller that upon them prey
And these have smaller still to bite 'em
And so proceed ad infinitum."
"IX. Water Life". Outdoor Sports and Games. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |eBook= ignored (help)