839 



A HISTUKT OF 



the earth-worm, having shot out, or extended 

 its body, takes hold by the sUme of the (ore 

 pnrt of its body, and so contracts and brings 

 forward the hinder part; in this manner it 

 moves onward, not without great efforts; but 

 the occasions for its progressive motion are 

 fe \v. 



As it is designed for living under the earth, 

 and leading a life of obscurity, so it seems 

 tolerably adapted to its situation. Its body 

 is armed with small stiff sharp burrs or 

 prickles, which it can erect or depress, at 

 pleasure; under the skin there lies a slimy 

 juice, to be ejected as occasion requires, at 

 certain perforations, between the rings of 

 the muscles, to lubricate its body, and tacili- 

 tate its passage into the earth. Like most 

 other irvseets, it has breathing-holes along the 

 back, adjoining each ring; but is without 

 bones, without eyes, without ears, and pro- 

 perly without feet. It has a mouth,, and also 

 an alimentary canal, which runs along to the 

 very point of the tail. In some worms, how- 

 ever, particularly such as are found in the 

 bodies of animals, th.is canal opens towards 

 the middle of the belly, at sojne distance 

 from the tail. The intestines of the earth- 

 worm are always found filled with a very 

 fine earth, which seeras.to be the only nourish- 

 ment these animals are capable of receiving. 



The animal is entirely without a 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 observed them, with their heads 

 laid against each other, and so strongly at- 

 tached, that they, sutler themselves to be trode 

 upon. 



When the eggs are laid in the earth, which, 

 in about fourteen days, as has been said, are 

 hatchet) into maturity, the young ones come 

 forth very small* but perfectly formed, and 



suffer no change during their existence : how. 

 long their life continues 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 revive 

 with the rest of nature, and on those occa- 

 sions, a moist or dewy evening brings them 

 forth from their rctseats, i'ov the universal 

 purpose of continuing their kind. They 

 chieily live in a light, rich, and fertile soil,, 

 moistened by dews or accidental showers, 

 but avoid those places where the water is apt 

 to lie on the surface of the earth, or where 

 the clay is too stiff' for their easy progression 

 under ground. 



Helpless as. they are formed, yet they seem, 

 very vigilant in avoiding those animals that 

 chk'lly make them their prey; in particular,, 

 the mole, who feeds entirely upon them be- 

 neath Uie surface, and who seldom ventures, 

 from the dimness of its sight, into the open 

 air; him they avoid, by darting up from the 

 earth, the instant they feel the ground move; 

 and fishermen, who are well acquainted with 

 this, take them in what numbers they choose* 

 by stirring the earth where they expect to, 

 find tliem. They are also driven from their 

 retreats under ground, by pouring bitter or 

 acrid water thereon, such as that water in 

 which green walnuts have been steeped, or a 

 ley made of pot-ashes. 



Such is the general outline of the history 

 of these reptiles, which, as it should seem, 

 degrades them no way beneath the rank of 

 other animals, of the insect creation : but 

 now- we come to a part of their history, which, 

 proves the imperfection of their organs, from 

 the easiness with which these little machines 

 may be damaged and repaired again. It is 

 well known in mechanics, that the finest and 

 most complicated instruments are the most 

 easily put out of order, and the most difficultly 

 set right ; the same also obtains in the anU 

 mal machine. IHan, the most complicated 

 machine of all others, whose nerves are more 

 numerous, and powers of action more various* 

 is most easily destroyed : he is seen to die 

 under wounds which a quadruped OP a bird 

 could easily survive; and as we descend 

 gradually to the lower ranks, the ruder the 



