ORDER ANNUL ATA APODA. 113 



and particularly in Finisterre, replenished the ponds in 

 which they preserved those leeches which were intended 

 for the Paris market. 



" About the month of April or May, according to the 

 nature of the season, they send out labourers, provided 

 with 'spades and baskets, to the little muddy marshes, 

 where they are known to exist in abundance. These 

 workmen then set about removing those portions of mud 

 that are known to contain cocoons, which are afterwards 

 deposited in sheets of water previously prepared for their 

 reception ; here the young leeches quit the cocoons, and 

 are allowed to remain for six months, when they are 

 removed to larger ponds." While they remain in these 

 ponds, the cattle and other animals are driven to the 

 water, for the purpose of allowing the young to feed upon 

 them, as it is supposed that they grow much more rapidly 

 after having partaken of blood. 



There is a small species of leech in the island of 

 Ceylon, which is more dreaded, and, from its great 

 numbers, produces more evil, than even the venomous 

 reptiles which are found in the island, including the 

 terrible hooded snake itself. 



The largest of these leeches are seldom more than 

 half an inch in length, and the smallest are minute 

 indeed. This leech is a very active animal ; it moves 

 with great rapidity, and is even said occasionally to 

 spring. It is supposed to have an acute sense of smell- 

 ing, for no sooner does a person stop where leeches 

 abound, that they appear to crowd eagerly to the spot 

 from all quarters. In rainy weather, it is shocking to 

 see the legs of men on a long march thickly beset with 

 these creatures, gorged with blood, and the blood itself 

 trickling down in streams. It might be supposed there 



