iv CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER II. 



habits of worms — continued. 



Manner in which worms seize objects — Their power of 

 suction — The instinct of plugging up the mouths of 

 their burrows — Stones piled over the burrows — 

 The advantages thus gained— Intelligence shown by- 

 worms in their manner of plugging up their burrows 

 — Various kinds of leaves and other objects thus 

 used — Triangles of paper — Summary of reasons for 

 believing that worms exhibit some intelligence — 

 Means by which they excavate their burrows, by 

 pushing away the earth and swallowing it — Earth 

 also swallowed for the nutritious matter which it 

 contains — Depth to which worms burrow, and the 

 construction of their burrows — Burrows lined with 

 castings, and in the upper part with leaves — The 

 lowest part paved with little stones or seeds — 

 Manner in which the castings are ejected — The 

 collapse of old burrows — Distribution of worms — 

 Tower-like castings in Bengal — Gigantic castings 

 on the Nilgiri Mountains — Castings ejected in all 

 countries ..... Pages 57-130 



CHAPTER III. 



THE AMOUNT OF FINE EARTH BROUGHT UP BY WORMS 

 TO THE SURFACE. 



Rate at which various objects strewed on the surface of 

 grass-fields are covered up by the castings of worms 

 — The burial of a paved path — The slow subsidence 

 of great stones left on the surface — The number of 

 worms which live within a given space — The 



