UJonms 



The most insignificant insects and reptiles are of 

 much more consequence, and have much more 

 influence in the economy of Nature, than the in- 

 curious are aware of. 



Earthworms, 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 loosening 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 excrement, is a fine manure for grain and grass. 



Worms probably provide new soils for hills and slopes where the 

 rain washes the earth away ; and they affect slopes, probably to 

 avoid being flooded. . . . 



The earth without worms would soon become cold, hard-bound, 

 and void of fermentation, and consequently sterile. 



Worms work most in the spring, but by no means lie torpid in 

 the dead months ; are out every mild night in the winter, as any 

 person may be convinced that will take the pains to examine his 

 grass plots with a candle. 



When earthworms lie out a-nights on the turf, though they extend 

 their bodies a great way, they do not quite leave their holes, but 

 keep the ends of their tails fixed therein, so that on the least alarm 

 they can retire with precipitation under the earth. Whatever food 

 falls within their reach when thus extended, they seem to be content 

 with such as blades of grass, straws, fallen leaves, the ends of 

 which they often draw into their holes. G. W. 



172 



