JULY, iSSi. 



limbo with Dr. Sangrado. Not that our capture was a 

 black leech it was only a goodly specimen of the horse- 

 leech dark brown, with dark black bands or markings 

 up the back. We had never heard before of a horse- 

 leech in the district; but here it gave unmistakable 

 evidence of its activity. Strange, we had always seen 

 them curled up in the ungainly position of a slug, and 

 never by any chance had we noticed them on the 

 move, as we had found our prisoner. Placed 

 in a dish in the window, in water, we forgot it, 

 and set about our ordinary avocations, determined to 

 seek a leisure hour in which to be better acquainted with 

 its habits. It at first affixed itself with its broad foot to 

 the bottom of the dish, and then scoured around for 

 food of any description. In this it was unsuccessful, as 

 the water was pure and its armed mouth under " govern- 

 ment control." The amount of attention bestowed upon 

 a matter of that character is not always in unison with 

 the real necessities of the case ; so Mr. Leech, whose 

 relatives had long been such aristocratic individuals, 

 determined to set about a tour of exploration for the 

 purpose of supplying its outrageous appetite. 



Where is the leech ? suddenly became the cry, as the 

 chance of its escape suggested itself. The chances were 

 in favour of its having attached itself to some stationery 

 limb, or sought out such at any rate; but a diligent 

 examination soon disclosed the sluggish-looking creature 

 under our feet beneath the table. Leeches not 

 uncommonly set out from a pond or ditch, and traverse 

 some distance in search of insects, not always a profitable 

 journey, as in the raid of our capture across the carpet. 

 But the adventures of the poor creature were not yet 

 over, as some one with a dim recollection of the ways of 



