ANNELIDANS. 33.0 



leeches, determined to examine the crocodile ; 

 and upon a large alligator he found a small red 

 species, of which he sent specimens. A friend 

 of mine, Mr. Martin, of Islington, observed also 

 that the alligators of Pulo Pen an g were infested, 

 as he thought, by an animal of this kind, called 

 by the natives its louse. 



The Trochilus of Aristotle, Mr. Stanley states 

 to Mr. Taylor, is the Egyptian Plover ;* who 

 further observes that the Green Tody 2 is also 

 related to cleanse the mouths of the alligators 

 in the West Indies, from the gnats and flies 

 that stick, in great abundance, in the glutinous 

 matter they contain. 



But there is a terrestrial kind of leech found 

 in the island of Ceylon, which appears to be a 

 greater pest than any other species of the genus, 

 and one of the greatest scourges of that fine 

 island. They infest, in immense numbers, the 

 mountains, woods, and swampy grounds, par- 

 ticularly in the rainy season. They are oftener 

 seen on leaves and stones than in the waters. 

 The largest are about half an inch long when at 

 rest. Their colour varies from brown to light 

 brown, with three longitudinal yellow lines. 

 They are semi-transparent, and when fully ex- 

 tended are like a fine chord, sharp at the ex- 

 tremity, and easily thread any aperture, so that 



1 Charadrius JEgyptius. ~ Todus viridis. 



