THE EARTHWORM. 179 



an inner narrower tube, which is open at both ends. The 

 outer one does the moving and feeling, and the inner is 

 used for feeding. The earth taken into the body is passed 

 along the inner tube, being first grasped by a lip which 

 hangs down at the very tip in front, and acts like a finger. 

 You should look for this small "finger" on a good-sized 

 worm. 



Amongst the earth swallowed there are little bits of 

 decaying plants, and this is the food of the worm. The 

 rest is passed on, and leaves the body as " castings." You 

 may see these on a lawn or garden-path in the early morn- 

 ing. Or you may have noticed those of the Sand- worm, 

 whose habits are similar, on the sea-shore. They are left 

 on the surface by the Earthworm, so that you see this 

 creature not only lets the air down into the soil, but also 

 brings the soil up to it. But this is not all. In the same 

 manner as the soil is altered by the air and rain, it is 

 changed by juices in the worm's body. Many of the little 

 bits of soil, too, are ground down in a gizzard which forms 

 part of the inner tube, and made so much smaller and finer 

 that they become very useful to plants. 



There are many other interesting things to learn about 

 Earthworms. Perhaps when you are older you will read 

 some of the books which have been written about them, or, 

 what is better, study them yourselves. 



