207 



common Earth Worm (Lumhricus terrestris) finds its way into 

 vessels, such as tubs, barrels, pails, &c., and about the eaves and 

 gutters of houses and sheds, which subject has occasionally been 

 a topic of discussion at the meetings of this Society. 



It is well known that after a shower of rain, upon a warm 

 summer's day, the lumbricus is frequently found in the places 

 above named ; but by what means they arrive there is the ques- 

 tion. Dr. Durkee had recently had an opportunity of watching 

 some earth worms which were placed in glass jars standing in 

 his office. At first there was a small quantity of water in the 

 bottom of the jar, which seemed to prevent them from ascending 

 any great distance ; but upon removing this they were repeatedly 

 seen mounting along the sides of the vessel. The progression 

 was at a more moderate rate, and by shorter strides or stages, 

 when they attempted to climb in a vertical direction, than when 

 their course was more inclined. In some instances they reached 

 the top of the vessel, a distance of eighteen inches in eight min- 

 utes. Generally their wanderings were quite irregular and cii'- 

 cuitous, and they continued on the sides of the glass sometimes 

 for the space of two hours, a part of the time in motion and a part 

 of the time at rest. The worms drag themselves along by a few 

 of their segments at a time, and the number of segments in motion 

 at any one moment is less in their ascending course than when a 

 horizontal or downward direction is taken. The abundant glu- 

 tinous secretion with which they are' covered, together with their 

 numerous seta? and segments, seems well adapted to aid them in 

 their various motions. 



The following paper on the Zonda Wind, was read by 

 Mr. N. H. Bishop :— 



At a former meeting of the Society, I offered some remarks 

 relative to this peculiar wind. (See Proceedings, vol. vi. p. 126.) 

 I now request the favor of ofi^ering some additional observa- 

 tions upon this peculiar wind. In searching through the works of 

 the very few authors who have visited the interior of the Argen- 

 tine States, (all but one or two of whom are Europeans,) I find 

 that one only mentions the existence of the above phenomenon, 



