2 04 Phylum A nnelida 



stones or pieces of wood under which the leeches may hide. No aquatic 

 plants are required as these leeches spend much of their time hanging 

 from the sides of the vessel above the water and exposed to the air. A 

 small number may be kept alive indefinitely in a glass or crockery jar 

 with a small amount of water and some Sphagnum moss. The leeches 

 of these genera and especially Philobdella, are less strictly sanguivorous 

 than Hirudo, etc., and add to their normal diet frogs' eggs, aquatic larvae, 

 Oligochaetes, etc. A meal of blood about every six months is sufficient. 

 This may be taken from frogs or small fishes, but mammalian blood is 

 better as being greater in amount and percentage of solid matter. Care 

 should be taken to avoid overfeeding, which checks breeding. The egg 

 capsules are deposited in the earth just above the water level and are 

 best slit open with fine scissors to secure the eggs. Our largest leeches 

 belonging to the genus Haemopis are more strictly predacious and often 

 wander at night a considerable distance from the water in search of food. 

 One subspecies has become practically terrestrial, living in garden soil 

 and feeding upon earthworms which are the best food for all species in 

 confinement, although they also eat insect larvae, smaller leeches, snails, 

 and almost any animals of suitable size. Except for feeding, culture 

 methods are similar to those recommended for Macrobdella. All leeches 

 of this family are given to wandering, and the vessels should be securely 

 covered, preferably with fine fly screen. 



