WORMS. 225 



from their numbers and fecundity. Earth-worms, though in 

 appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of 

 "Nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm.* For 

 to say nothing of half the birds, and some quadrupeds, 

 which are almost entirely supported by them, worms seem 

 to be the great promoters of vegetation, which would proceed 

 but lamely without them, by boring, perforating, and loosen- 

 ing the soil, and rendering it pervious to rains and the fibres 

 of plants, by drawing straws and stalks of leaves into it ; 

 and, most of all, by throwing up such infinite numbers of 

 lumps of earth, called worm-casts, which being their excre- 

 ment, is a fine manure for grain and grass.f Worms pro- 



* The following interesting account of the earth-worm was communicated 

 to me by an intelligent correspondent : " On Tuesday night, February 3rd, 

 1836, we had the deepest snow which has fallen for the winter; though not 

 to be compared with what fell in the west, and in other parts of England. 

 As on other occasions we observed the blackbirds and thrushes drawing up to 

 the house, and cowering as if to give notice of a coming storm. On the 

 following morning, on looking out of window we noticed an unusual appear- 

 ance. At first sight it seemed as if the unsullied snow had many little twigs 

 or sticks scattered all over its surface. On closer inspection it proved that 

 numbers of large earth-worms were writhing on the face of the snow, and 

 they furnished a rich repast for the birds to breakfast on, so that some of our 

 usual visitors forsook their crumbs under the verandah. What circumstances 

 can have induced these earth-worms to leave their holes and to be found in 

 such an uncongenial station, we cannot imagine. Perhaps, as the evening was 

 mild and moist they may have sallied forth, and the snow, coming suddenly, 

 may have prevented their finding their way to their homes. But why mount 

 to the surface and expose themselves to certain death ! The recollection of 

 this phenomenon is still fresh in our memories, and when I recalled it to a 

 sister who was with us, she spoke of it with disgust, as like a layer of flesh 

 upon the snow. But I have never had the causes clearly explained, nor am 

 I sufficiently acquainted with the habits of earth-worms to do so. As far as 

 I have observed they never leave their holes, unless something is the matter. 

 You have probably observed on a mild moist evening, when they bask on 

 the turf, and dart into their holes with infinite vivacity, that they always 

 retain possession at one extremity. I have found that if I have snatched 

 one from his hold, I could not restore it again. The poor creature was quite 

 lost, and could neither find his way home himself or be replaced in it by me. 

 Am I right in supposing that they never voluntarily leave their holes? Or 

 do they wander forth in the depth of the night, and in the case described 

 above, were they excluded by the sudden fall of snow and change of tem- 

 perature ? " ED. 



+ The runs, also, made by worms in the earth, enables the water to per- 

 colate to the roots of wheat and other grain. Worm-casts, when collected 

 are an excellent soil for many flowers, such as carnations, pinks, &c. ED. 



