HIRUDO. 49 
Puate V. 
Fic. 1. Hirudo flava, the Yellow Leech, young. 
2. The same, enlarged. 
Head more enlarged, shewing its form, and the position of the 
eyes. 
~ 
w 19 
4. Hirudo flava, adult specimen, back. 
5. Sketch of fig. 4 enlarged ; sucker 8. 
6. The same, belly; sucker a. 
7. Sketch of fig. 5 enlarged; sucker a. 
8. Head more enlarged. 
9. Prolific female slightly enlarged, with a stratum of ova or capsules, 
under surface. 
10. Early appearance ‘of spawn in a prolific specimen. 
11. Intimate appearance of seven embryos, enlarged. 
12. Prolific female. 
13. Head of the same, enlarged. 
14. Under surface of fig. 12, more enlarged. 
15. Cluster of ova, more enlarged. 
16. Young still attached to the parent, enlarged. 
17. The same when further advanced, and free. 
18. One of the young farther advanced, most of the contents of the 
viscera being discharged, more enlarged. 
19. Head of the same, shewing the red eyes, enlarged. 

The leech is an animal of very peculiar habits, and the more likely 
to attract notice, on account of its being brought into such immediate 
contact with mankind,—extremely restless in its nature, most voracious 
in its appetites, greedy of blood, and patient under protracted abstinence, 
—these are sufficient, with its real properties, to render it an object of 
interest, without resorting, as in fabulous eras, to imaginary virtues for 
embellishment. Its utility in assuaging human calamity ought to be of 
itself sufficient. 
The leech exhibits many peculiarities. It is social, or it is solitary ; 
dwelling under cover, and numbers clustering together, protected by 
stones, shells, and other solid coverings, or descending among the mud on 
the approach of winter. 
G 
