CHAPTER XIII. 

 THE EARTHWORM. 



A TALK WITH YOUNG PUPILS. 



NOTE. For the purposes of this lesson, there should be 

 provided a box or glass vessel, with glass cover, containing 

 earth and some worms ; also a pocket lens. 



THE Earthworm is a small and delicate creature. When 

 we look at its wriggling body as it is turned up amongst 

 the soft earth by the spade, we may not at first think it a 

 very interesting animal. If we are willing, however, to 

 study it for a little, we shall learn some things about it 

 which show that it is a wonderful and important creature. 



Let us put a little earth in which we have found some 

 worms into a pot or glass vessel, pressing it down gently 

 and placing the worms on the top. Now we shall watch 

 their behaviour. Observe how freely and easily they move. 

 We see them wriggle, and twist, and turn, and crawl. 

 Watch one as it crawls along. You see that the end which 

 is moving in front is stretched out very long and thin. It 

 is next shortened and thickened. This takes place all 

 along the body, but is best seen at the front end. The 

 result is that the worm moves forward ; the parts which 

 produce the motion are long muscles which reach from 

 end to end, and lie very closely all round its body. They 

 are very powerful, and it is by their help that the worm 

 pushes its way into and through the soil. 



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