SPARSELY-BRISTLED GROUP 3411 



coasts of Europe. The body is short, measuring less than half an inch in length, 

 and composed of a small number of bristle-tufted segments. Unlike the Serpulida, 

 the animal habitually leaves its membranous tube in search of food, when it appears 

 as a lively little creature, moving with indifference and facility either forward or 

 backward. 



SPARSELY-BRISTLED GROUP Order OLIGOCH^BTA 



The most familiar representatives of this group are the earthworms 

 {Lumbricidce) t characterized by the numerous short segments of the body, the 



COMMON EARTHWORM, Lumbricus agricola. 

 (Natural size.) 



bullet-shaped, plastic head lobe, and the hook-like bristles which form either two 

 or four longitudinal rows, and project but slightly above the surface of the skin. 

 Apart from certain thickenings of the skin, earthworms have no special organs of 

 sense, that is to say, neither ears nor eyes, although at the same time they are 

 highly sensitive to the influence of light. Their food consists for the most part of 



Phreoryctes menkeanus. 

 (Natural size.) 



the decaying animal and vegetable matter absorbed from the soil, which they take 

 in large quantities into the alimentary canal; but they also draw into their burrows 

 straws, feathers, leaves, bits of paper, etc., to serve for food. The muscular 

 strength required to overcome such obstacles is often very great, and no one would 

 suppose that a creature so soft, slimy, and to all appearance helpless would be 



