ANABIOSIS OF THE EARTHWORM 



69 



The results of the exsiccation were as follows (table 8) . 



TABLE 8 



Worm no. 1, placed 16 VIII 15h 30' on moist filter-paper, 

 showed at 16h 40' energetic contractions of the body, and in the 

 evening (19h) had completely revived. 



Worms nos. 2 and 3 placed 17 VIII 18h 15' on moist filter- 

 paper showed at 18h 35' the first contractions of the proximal 

 part of the body. At 18 VIII lOh both worms were completely 

 revived and moved with great energy. 



Worm no. 4 placed on moist filter-paper at 14 VIII 19h 30' 

 showed contractions at 22h, but died next morning (15 VIII 

 llh). 



This sixth series shows, that the combination of exsiccation 

 and low temperature gives the most satisfactory results. Owing to 

 the slowness of the exsiccation and the retardation of the activity 

 of microorganisms the treatment affects the vitality of the worms 

 in a very small degree and the loss of water is easily endured. 



Lack of time has not allowed me to repeat this series of experi- 

 ments and to try the preservation of earthworms exsiccated in 

 this manner at a low temperature. It is possible that the results 

 might be more successful than in the foregoing series. 



EXPERIMENTS, SERIES VII 



In this last series I intended to try the exsiccation of worms 

 that had already undergone this operation and had been revived. 

 But I could use for this purpose only worm no. 1 of series IV. 



This earthworm was weighed on 12 VIII 19h and its weight 

 was 1.2610 gr. — the diminution of its weight as compared with 



