THE MICROSCOPE. 



JANUARY, 1896. 



Number 37. New Series. 



LIBRAE-- 

 NKW YORl 

 80TANICAJ 



Objects Seen Under the Microscope, 



Bv CHRYSANTHEMUM. 

 XXX. — THE EARTH-WORM. 



Notice an earth-worm in tlie garden, how it winds rap- 

 idly along the ground, then thrusts its head into the soft 

 earth and disappears. Examine it more closely and you 

 perceive no feet, wings, fins, or limbs of any kind, only a 

 long cylinder of soft flesh divided into numerous succes- 

 sive rings, and tapering at each extremity. Even the 

 nose which penetrates the soil is not hard or bony but 

 composed of the same soft kind of flesh. 



Place the worm in a deep cell and put it under a low 

 power of the microscope. The segments will be seen 

 more distinctly and as it moves, on either side of its body, 

 little spines may be seen advancing or receding from 

 each segment. Also notice when the body is curved 

 (figure G) that the segments are larger at one side than 

 at the other and that the spines are quite prominent at 

 the smallest side. By careful focusing it may be seen 

 that these spines are used in much the same way as the 

 oars of a boat. This movement is better seen in one of 

 the little worms found on decaying leaves in an aqua- 

 rium, for here the body is so transparent that the action 

 of the setge is very plainly seen. 



With a little chloroform kill one of the earth-worms 

 and with a pair of sharp scissors cut out a small piece, 

 say two or three segments, from a comparatively trans- 

 parent part, wash it carefully, then press it between two 

 slides and examine. You will probably see several 



