OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VERMES. 423 



GLOW-WORMS. 



By observing two glow-worms which were brought from the field 

 to the bank in the garden, it appeared to us that these little 

 creatures put out their lamps between eleven and twelve, and shine 

 no more for the rest of the night. 



Little glow-worms, attracted by the light of the candles, come 

 into the parlour. WHITE. 



EARTH-WORMS. 



Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather, about 

 March and April ; they do not lie torpid in winter, but come 

 forth when there is no frost ; they travel about in rainy nights, 

 as appears from their sinuous tracks on the soft muddy soil, 

 perhaps in search of food. 



When earth-worms lie out a-nights on the turf, though they 

 extend their bodies a great way, they do not leave their holes, but 

 keep the ends of their tails fixed therein, so that on the least 

 alarm they can retire with precipitation under the earth. What- 

 ever food falls within their reach when thus extended, they seem 

 to be content with, such as blades of grass, straws, fallen leaves, 

 the ends of which they often draw into their holes ; even in copu- 

 lation their hinder parts never quit their holes ; so that no two, 

 except they lie within reach of each other's bodies, can have any 

 commerce of that kind ; but as every individual is an hermaphro- 

 dite, there is no difficulty in meeting with a mate, as would be the 

 case were they of different sexes. WHITE. 



SNAILS AND SLUGS. 



The shell-less snails called slugs are in motion all the winter in 

 mild weather, and commit great depredations on garden plants, 

 and much injure the green wheat, the loss of which is imputed to 

 earth-worms ; while the shelled snail, the <e/oeoi/cos, does not come 

 forth at all till about April loth, and not only lays itself up pretty 

 early in autumn, in places secure from frost, but also throws out 



