116 HABITS OF WORMS. Chap. II. 



as well as the seeds, are carried down from 

 the surface by being swallowed ; for a sur- 

 prising number of glass beads, bits of tile 

 and of glass were certainly thus carried down 

 by worms kept in pots ; but some may have 

 been carried down within their mouths. The 

 sole conjecture which I can form why worms 

 line their w^inter-quarters with httle stones 

 and seeds, is to prevent their closely coiled-up 

 bodies from coming into close C9ntact with 

 the surrounding cold soil ; and such contact 

 would perhaps interfere with their respiration 

 which is effected by the skin alone. 



A worm after swallowing earth, whether 

 for making its burrow or for food, soon comes 

 to the surface to em|)ty its body. The ejected 

 earth is thoroughly mingled with the intestinal 

 secretions, and is thus rendered viscid. After 

 being dried it sets hard. I have watched 

 worms during the act of ejection^ and when 

 the earth was in a very liquid state it was 

 ejected in little spurts, and when not so 

 liquid by a slow peristaltic movement. It is 

 not cast indifferently on any side, but with 

 some care, first on one and then on another 

 side ; the tail being used almost like a trowel. 



