182 Transactions. — Zoology. 



dry weather, many of them become pale and almost transparent ; 

 their bodies also become limp, compared to those that remain 

 active in moister places. 



Where two or more worms are found in one burrow, or in 

 separate chambers attached to or leading from it, it can only be 

 explained by some finding their way into them during the night, 

 when roaming about on the surface, and when the mouths of the 

 burrows are open. I have observed that when worms are 

 numerous in solid ground, their burrows often enter or run into 

 each other ; they then have the appearance of branching bur- 

 rows, but the difference can be detected, as a perfect one is 

 either semicircular, or branches gradually like railway points, 

 usually but not always at the bottom, or turn, and rises again to 

 the surface. If worms are about to hibernate, they sometimes 

 descend perpendicularly to a considerable depth, and turn a few 

 inches horizontally before they excavate their chambers ; the 

 mould is generally voided in the channel leading from the main 

 burrow, and effectually shuts off the worm from any contact 

 with the cold or dry air. 



In some of the branching burrows may often be seen quanti- 

 ties of fresh castings packed tightly into them. The difference 

 between dark mould washed in from the surface, or from the 

 broken walls of a burrow, can be distinguished from castings 

 voided intact, as the latter retain their perfect vermiform shape 

 for a considerable time. There is no doubt whatever that the 

 New Zealand earth-worms " use old burrows for the purpose of 

 voiding their castings in," as abundance of them can be found 

 in clay, or clayey lands, perfectly packed with them, both fresh 

 and old. The habit of voiding castings, or pairing in their 

 burrows, must tend to the preservation of worms in districts 

 where their enemies are numerous. 



During the last summer, undoubtedly the hottest and driest 

 on record in this j)rovince, the sun cracked the land which 

 these worms inhabit to a great depth. In order to ascertain the 

 depth they burrowed under the circumstances, we dug several 

 holes, and found them chambered at from 20 to 49 inches from 

 the surface. 



Early in September of last year one of the ploughmen 

 informed me that he was ploughing a piece of land on the 

 banks of the Waiareka Creek which contained great numbers of 

 large worms. I went out next day, and followed in the wake of 

 the plough, collecting specimens and examining the burrows. 

 The land was the same peculiar adhesive mould already men- 

 tioned, and the worms were numerous and large. Previous to 

 this the weather had been mild, and suited to their actions. 

 The burrows were very perfect, nearly all being of the semi- 

 circular form. The air echoed with the delighted cries of gulls, 

 stilts, and terns, all eagerly devoui'ing the large worms. 



