14 NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER XXXV. 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR ; SELBORNE, May 20, 1777- 



LANDS that are subject to frequent inun- 

 dations are always poor ; and probably the 

 reason may be because the worms are 

 drowned. The most insignificant insects 

 and reptiles are of much more consequence, 

 and have much more influence in the oeco- 

 nomy of Nature, than the incurious are 

 aware of j and are mighty in their effect, 

 from their minuteness, which renders them 

 less an object of attention ; and from their 

 numbers and fecundity. Earth-worms, 

 though in appearance a small and despica- 

 ble 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 sup- 

 ported by them, worms seem to be great 



