110 HABITS OF WORMS. Chap. II. 



continued dry weather and severe cold. In 

 Scandinavia, according to Eisen, and in Scot- 

 land, according to Mr. Lindsay Carnagie, the 

 burrows run down to a depth of from 7 to 8 

 feet ; in North Germany, according to Hoflf- 

 meister, from 6 to 8 feet, but Hensen says, 

 from 3 to 6 feet. This latter observer has seen 

 worms frozen at a depth of 1^ feet beneath 

 the surface. I have not myself had many 

 opportunities for observation, but I have often 

 met with worms at depths of 3 to 4 feet. 

 In a bed of fine sand overlying the chalk, 

 which had never been disturbed, a worm was 

 cut into two at 55 inches, and another was 

 found here in December at the bottom of its 

 burrow, at 61 inches beneath the surface. 

 Lastly, in earth near an old Roman Yilla, 

 which had not been disturbed for many 

 centuries, a worm was met with at a depth 

 of G6 inches ; and this was in the middle of 

 August. 



The burrows run down perpendicularly, or 

 more commonly a little obliquely. They are 

 said sometimes to branch, but as far as I have 

 seen this does not occur, except in recently 

 dug ground and near the surface. They are 



