230 MAGGOTS FKOM SEA-WEED. [p ART II. 



merly choked it up. The second pond has since 

 been filled up. 



The soil which is observable at the mouths 

 of Earth-worm holes (worm-casts as they are 

 called) by no means consists exclusively of earth 

 thrown up by them from beneath the surface, it 

 being their habit, when returning from their noc- 

 turnal peregrinations, to bring with them any 

 light and portable substances which they may 

 come across, and, leaving them at the entrances 

 of their holes, thus shut their doors after them. 

 On a lawn near Winchester, a short time since, 

 I noticed a number of small black pellets col- 

 lected into heaps in such a way as to make it 

 appear at first that sheep had made their way 

 into the garden, and been straying there. On 

 closer examination however they proved to be 

 composed of acorns from a neighbouring Ilex, 

 which had been carried off, and thus disposed by 

 the Worms. 



It is not, I think, generally known that Mag- 

 gots, admirably adapted for feeding young phea- 

 sants and partridges, can be procured from 

 common sea-weed. This should be taken up as 

 near low-water mark as possible, placed in a heap, 

 and allowed to rot, about a fortnight after which 



