Lessons in the School-yard. 147 



them also ; others will shudder and turn away. Do not 

 compel such a child to take one. Such aversions will soon 

 pass away, and even the most timid will come to handle 

 these and other harmless creatures without any feelings of 

 dislike. 



When all are supplied, direct them in an examination of 

 this little creature. Tell them nothing. Ask questions like 

 the following : 



Who can tell -me the name of this little [animal ? What 

 color is it ? What shape has it ? How does its head differ 

 from the tail in shape ? Where are its eyes ? Has it any 

 feelers ? Of what is its body made ? How many rings do 

 you find, Charlie ? How many rings has your worm, 

 Nellie ? Is its body smooth or rough ? Which way is it 

 rough from head to tail or tail to head ? Look closely 

 and see if you can tell why it is so rough. Can you find its 

 little mouth ? Look just below the pointed head and see 

 if you can find the mouth. Its mouth is very small, and it 

 has no teeth. How does the earthworm move ? Watch it 

 crawl. What part does it push forward ? How long can 

 your worm stretch, Mary ? When it pushes its head for- 

 ward, what does it do with the back part of the body ? 

 What keeps its tail from sliding backward while it moves 

 its head forward ? What does the angleworm eat ? I will 

 tell you : it swallows soil, from which it obtains food, and 

 then vpids it upon the ground in the form of small round- 

 ish masses called worm-casts. These you may see on the 

 ground in any garden where angleworms abound. 



How do you think that this little worm, with such a 

 soft body, can bore holes through the ground ? I will tell 

 you: the pointed end pushes forward, and the minute 

 hooks on the rings that make them feel so rough hold the 

 body from sliding back. Do you see the sticky wet fluid 

 that comes out on the surface of the worm ? That helps to 

 keep his body moist, and so he can breathe. Did you ever 

 see one of these worms on the ground ? When do they 

 come out of the ground ? Why do they come out at night 



