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and thii hill has been drawn too many times by the pack 

 of Chinton Hounds to leave the least chance of such a find 

 remaining. He now thought that the mystery had been solved, 

 and wrote this article to explain his theory. While crossing an 

 arable field high up on the Sussex Downs during a frost — a place 

 where, after a shower on a summer evening, one may count 

 thirty earthworms to the square yard, and the ground seems to 

 vibrate as they quickly draw in their bodies at the sound 

 of a footstep — he noticed one of the species suddenly eject the 

 greater part of its length from its burrow, and writhe as if 

 in extreme agony. 



On taking hold of the creature and withdrawing it from the 

 hole, he found that an insect resembling a centipede had firmly 

 attached itself to the worm's lower extremity. It was armed 

 with a formidable pair of forceps, and so deeply were thes«- 

 embedded in the body of the unfortunate worm that being carried 

 suspended for some half mile did not cause it to relinquish its hold . 

 The agressor and its victim were deposited together in a 

 box of earth, and on examining the contents next mornin-2r the 

 worm was found to be in two portions, which, contrary to the 

 popular belief that each part will form a complete annelid, were 

 both dead. 



That this creature is the seagull's provider, by driving the 

 worm above ground within its reach, was the theory suggested by 

 this little episode, and on mentioning it to other naturalists, he 

 was recommended to shoot a few gulls, and endeavour to 

 prove it. 



The last day before the protected season for these birds 

 arrived without a specimen being obtained, although large flocks 

 had frequented the district, when about midday he noticed a 

 number of gulls crossing a hillside, and, hastily taking bis gun, 

 made for a deep lane over which the flock was passing, in time to 

 stop one of the rearguard. 



The bird, a fine specimen of the common gull, dropped 

 without moving a wing. A post mortem was made, and on 

 searching the gizzard it was found empty, with the exception of 

 a few clover leaves and nodules of chalk, and he wondered if the 

 object of his search would be found without the slaughter of ten 

 or twelve of these beautiful birds, but, examining the abdominal 

 cavity towards the gullet, a soft substance was discovered, and he 

 drew forth an earth worm, and, still attached thereto (although 

 both were dead) a little brown, centipede-like insect, and, with 

 recollections of my Euclid days, quod erat demonstrandum escsiped 

 my lips. 



