a nightly cartilaginous fubftance ; and, being lituated 

 fo as to converge when the animal bites, leave a 

 fomewhat triangular mark on the Ikin. The tail 

 of the leech is a curious fphindler, or circular 

 mufcle, by which the creature has the power of 

 faftening itfelf with eafe and fecurity to any objed: 

 by which it chufes to adhere. 



Leeches have a very ftrong tendency to reproduc- 

 tion when cut : the Hirudo fanguifuga I have more 

 than once divided towards the middle, and have 

 found that the two parts continued perfedtly vigo- 

 rous for fome weeks, though receiving no other 

 nourilhment than what they abforbed from the water. 

 The wounded ends appeared more and more rounded, 

 and daily tending to complete reproduftion ; which 

 however they did not attain to, but after fome far- 

 ther time gradually grew weaker and died. The 

 fmaller fpecies, however, of this genus ahnofl equal 

 the Polype in reproductive power, and may be 

 multiplied by cutting Math great eafe and certainty. 



T 



