406 HISTORY OF 



the head to the tail, somewhat resembling a wire wound lound a 

 walking-cane, which when slipped off, and one end extended and 

 held fast, will bring the other nearer to it ; in this manner the 

 earth-worm, having shot out, or extended its body, takes hold by 

 the slime of the forepart of its body, and so contracts and brings 

 forwai'd the hinder part ; in this manner it moves onward, not 

 without great eiforts j but the occasions for its progressive mo- 

 tion are few. 



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 perfora- 

 tions between the rings of the muscles, to lubricate its body, 

 and facilitate its passage into the earth. Like most other insects, 

 it has breathing holes along the back, adjoining each ring ; but 

 is without bones, without eyes, without ears, and properly with- 

 out 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, 

 this canal opens towards the middle of the belly, at some dis- 

 tance from the tail. The intestines of the earth-worm are 

 always found filled with a very fine earth, which seems to be 

 the only nourishment 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 mo- 

 tion, and round it are the spermatic vessels, forming a number 

 of little globules, containing a milky fluid, which have an open- 

 ing into the belly, not far from the liead ; 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 ge 

 nial warmth of their situation ; like snails, all these animals 

 unite in themselves both sexes at once; the reptile that im- 

 pregnates, being impregnated in turn : few that walk out, but 

 must have observed them, with their heads laid against each 

 other, and so strongly attached, that they suffer themselves to be 

 trode upon. 



When the eggs are laid in the earth, which, in about fourteen 

 days, as has been said, are hatched into maturity, the young ones 

 come forth very small, but perfectly formed, and suffer no 



