[ 376 ] 

 LII. Observations oh the Leech- worm. 

 To Mr. TUloch. 



Bawtry, Nor. S, 1809. 



Sir, Oome years ago my attention was directed to make 

 observations on the leech-worm as a weather-glass : these 

 were published in The Gentleman's Magazme 1804 ; since 

 which period I have had many opportunities of noticing 

 bcvev^i particulars respecting them : these are here coni- 

 milied to paper, to stimulate the curious to an mquiry into 

 the caL^se of this phaenomenon. If these observations should 

 tend to the object in view, and be worth the pt- rusal of the 

 public, you will be kind enough to insert ihcm in your 

 Miscellany. I am, sir. 



Your most obedient servant, 



W. Peck, 



(Changes that J have nlscrved in the Animal before any par- 

 ticular Alterutian of the IVealher. 



1. When the leech lies motionless at the bottom of the 

 glass, and is frequently in a spiral form, the weather in 

 summer will be serene and beautiful : the same denotes 

 clear frosty weather in winter. 



e. If it creeps up to the top of its lodging, it will rain 

 within Iweiitv-four hours in summer, and snow in winter. 



3. When the leech gallops through its limpid habitation 

 with swiftness, it denotes wind, and seldom rests until it 

 blows hard. 



4. When the leech lodges almost constantly out of the 

 water, and discovers uncommon uneasiness in violent throes 

 and convulsive-like motions, a storm of thunder and raiii 

 will succeed. 



Method of keeping Leeches. 



1. Put a few into an eight- ounce phial two-thirds full of 

 spring water, with some fine sand or moss at the bottom. 

 As the leeches have no other evacuation but through 

 the pores of the skin, which passes from them in per- 

 spirable matter, and adheres to the body in the state of 

 $lime, which, if not timely removed, prevents these eva- 

 cuations, and causes the death of the worm ; the use of sand, 

 or moss, is that it may rub the slime off its body, which 

 afterwards floats in the water. Over the top of the phial 

 jie a piece of leather pricked full of holes to admit air. 



?. The water must be changed once a week : spring 



water 



