176 HISTORY OF 



the bodies of animals, this canal opens towards 

 the middle of the belly, at some distance from the 

 tail. The intestines of the earth-worm are always 

 found filled with a very fine earth, which seems 

 to be the only nourishment these animals arc 

 capable of receiving. 



The animal is entirely without brain, but near 

 the head is placed the heart, which is seen to 

 beat with a very distinct motion, and round it are 

 the spermatic vessels, forming a number of little 

 globules, containing a milky fluid, which have an 

 opening into the belly, not far from the head : 

 they are also often found to contain a number of 

 eggs, which are laid in the earth, and are hatched 

 in twelve or fourteen days into life by the genial 

 warmth of their situation. Like snails, all these 

 animals unite in themselves both sexes at once, 

 the reptile that impregnates being impregnated 

 in turn : few that walk out but must have observ- 

 ed them with their heads laid against each other, 

 and so strongly attached that they suffer them- 

 selves to be trod upon. 



When the eggs are laid in the earth, which in 

 about fourteen days, as has been said, are hatched 

 into maturity, the young ones come forth very 

 small, but perfectly formed, and suffer no change 

 during their existence : how long their life con- 

 tinues is not well known, but it certainly holds 

 for more than two or three seasons. During the 

 winter they bury themselves deeper in the earth, 

 and seem in some measure to share the general 

 torpidity of the insect tribe. In spring they re- 

 vive with the rest of nature, and on those occa- 



