( 57 ) 



CHAPTER II. 



habits of worms — continued. 



Manner in which worms seize objects — Their power of suction — 

 The instinct of plugging up the mouths of their burrows — 

 Stones piled over the burrows — The advantages thus gained — 

 Intelligence shown by worms in their manner of plugging up 

 their burrows — Various kinds of leaves and other objects thus 

 used — Triangles of paper — Summary of reasons for believing 

 that worms exhibit some intelligence — Means by which they 

 excavate their burrows, by pushing away the earth and swal- 

 lowing it — Earth also swallowed for the nutritious matter 

 which it contains — Depth to which worms burrow, and the 

 construction of their burrows — Burrows lined with castings, 

 and in the upper part with leaves — The lowest part paved with 

 little stones or seeds — Manner in which the castings are 

 ejected — The collapse of old burrows — Distribution of worms — 

 Tower-like castings in Bengal — Gigantic castings on the 

 Nilgiri Mountains — Castings ejected in all countries. 



In the pots in which worms were kept, 

 leaves were pinned down to the soil, and 

 at night the manner in which they were 

 seized could be observed. The worms always 

 endeavoured to drag the leaves towards their 

 burrows; and they tore or sucked off small 

 fragments, whenever the leaves were sufE- 



