60 



FOOD 



and 8-387 lbs. respectively, which would amount annually 

 to 14-58 or 18-12 tons per acre on an 

 average. This lifting up of the earth 

 has saved for archaeologists many ob- 

 jects of intense antiquarian interest, 

 and helps to account for the fact that the 

 earth is slowly rising, a fact which anyone 

 who visits any ancient Saxon church with 

 its floor below the present level of its sur- 

 roundings can easily verify. Earth-worms 

 are equally of value to the agriculturist, 

 for they break up the soil, bring the rich 

 sub-soil to the surface and open up channels 

 for the air and water to penetrate. 



Leeches for the most part live on blood, 

 and they are not particular how they get 

 it. They will attack cattle, birds, frogs 

 and tadpoles, insects, snails and worms. 

 Like the other blood-sucking creatures, 

 they are capable of conveying disease 

 from one animal to another, and cer- 

 tain fish-diseases are thought to be 

 spread by their agency. Leeches were 

 wonderfully abundant in our pools 

 and streams, but with the drainage 

 of the Fens and other waters they have 

 for many years become scarce and ^^^^^ HirudomeAicinalis, 

 now have to be imported. The same the medicinal leech. Life 

 scarcity was very apparent to the size. 1. Mouth. 2. Sucker. 

 poet Wordsworth, whose insatiate ^- ^^^'^'^ ^^S'''^'- 

 curiosity is recorded in the following lines in 1802 — Words- 

 worth was always asking rather fatuous questions : 



My question eagerly did I renew, 



''How is it that you live, and what is it you do?" 

 He with a smile did then his words repeat: 

 And said that, gathering leeches, far and wide 

 He travelled ; stirring thus about his feet 

 The waters of the pools where they abide. 

 "Once I could meet with them on every side; 

 But they have dwindled long by slow decay; 

 Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may.' 



