EARTHWORM 



103 



If there is a cellar being dug near you, you can probably 

 see wormholes in the firm earth ou its sides. Are the holes 

 straight or crooked ? They are often close together, and reach 

 to the bottom of the cellar, so that they look like the roots of 

 trees. 



Habits of Earthworms. — Put some earthworms in a box of 

 damp soil and cover them with black paper or cloth, to keep 

 out the light. Feed them with small bits of cabbage leaves or 

 fat meat, and keep the ground moist, but not soaking wet. 



Earthworm 



Take the cover off from the box of worms without jarring the 

 box. While you watch them, what do they do ? Do they eat ? 

 Do they seem able to see anything ? Clap your hands together. 

 Do the worms seem to hear? Tap on the box. Do the worms 

 seem to feel the jar ? 



An earthworm gets some food from the soil which it swal- 

 lows, but at night it often lies stretched on the ground in 

 search of bits of leaves and scraps of vegetables and meat 

 for food. At daylight it stops the mouth of its tunnel with 

 pieces of grass and leaves and lies quiet near the surface of 

 the ground. 



Watch a robin search for worms in the morning. How hard 

 does the bird have to pull in order to get the Avorm out of the 

 hole? Does a worm ever prove to be the stronger and get 

 away? 



