THE LEECHES OF JAPAN. 327 
Hakone, called Suberiyama. They are also said to be found 
on Amaki peak, in the province of Idzu, on the eastern shore. 
Habits.—I have never seen the Land Leech of Japan on 
trees, and I believe it keeps itself habitually on the ground, in 
the moss, or under damp leaves and loose rubbish. When 
awakened by the footsteps of man or beast, it quickly appears 
on the surface, and frequently ascends low plants and occa- 
sionally perhaps trees in search of the intruder. They are 
usually found near the tops of mountains, in damp ravines or 
dense thickets, where the ground is carpeted with moss and 
other low plants. During the driest months of the summer 
these localities are kept moist by mists and showers, and in 
winter they are sometimes covered with snow. Wild boar and 
deer frequent these places, and it may well be that these 
Leeches derive their sustenance in part from such animals. 
They are much dreaded by the natives, who are accustomed to 
go with feet and legs bare. They are extremely voracious, and 
wonderfully rapid in their movements. When once on the 
person, they take such rapid strides, and cleave with such 
pertinacity, that it is difficult to remove them without injury. 
Their bite is so gently executed that it would hardly be felt 
unless the attention were specially directed to it; but the 
wound is comparatively deep and the scar often remains for 
months. They gorge themselves with blood in thirty or forty 
minutes, and then drop off. During the process a transparent 
liquid exudes from the skin, which keeps moist both the Leech 
and the object on which it preys, and even flows away in a few 
large clear drops. It would not be difficult with a dozen 
Leeches to collect enough of this fluid for chemical analysis ; 
but I neglected to do this. I think the fluid comes in part 
from the mucous glands of the skin, and in part from the 
nephridia. If the moisture be removed by a momentary 
application of blotting-paper, it is easy to see, on removing the 
paper, the fluid gathering over the nephridial pores. When 
the Leech creeps over a dry object it leaves a slimy path similar 
to that left by land snails. When fully gorged with blood 
they become sluggish, and do not appear to be averse to going 
