THE LEECH. 33$ 



Description. 



The legs are not formed for leaping. These in- 

 sects are common in many parts of South 

 America. 



It is asserted by Shaw, that the light emitted 

 by this fly proceeds entirely from the hollow- 

 part, or lantern, of the head; no bther part of the 

 animal being luminous. Its most essential use 

 is, probably, to point out the sexes to each other, 

 serving in them the same purpose, in this respect, 

 ps the voice in larger animals. 



THE LEECH. 



TKtE body of the leech is oblong and trun- 

 cate, or as if cut off at both ends. These animals 

 are cartilaginous, and move by dilating the head 

 #nd tail, and contracting themselves into the 

 form of an arch. 



The medicinal is leech usually found in stagnant 

 ponds and ditches, and is of an olive black co- 

 lour, with six yellowish lines above, and spotted 

 with yellow beneath. It is generally two or 

 three inches in length. The body is formed with 

 numerous annular wrinkles, which the animal 

 has the power of expanding or contracting at 

 pleasure. The tail ends in a circular muscle or 

 sucker, which, when applied to any substance, 

 readily adheres, by the animal's drawing up the 

 middle, so as to have it pressed firmly down by 

 the external air. By this it fastens itself with 



