THE CLAY HAIRWORM. 



nexion with any previous subject of pursuit. Few, 

 perhaps, would stay to inspect the clay hairworm 

 (gordius argillaceus), yet it is a very curious crea- 

 ture. We find it at the bottoms of drains and ditches, 

 chiefly in the spring of the year. Its colour is a 

 pale yellow ; and it appears like some long vege- 

 table fibre, or root, coiled up and twisted together 

 (Plate 6, Fig. 2). The whole body of the animal 

 consists of numerous annulations, or rings, by means 

 of which it has the power of contracting its sub- 

 stance, as it has likewise of extending it, until it 

 becomes nearly a foot in length, and smooth as a 

 wire. The extreme points are transparent and ta- 

 pering, formed of apparently harder materials than 

 the body. The designation of most of our small 

 land and water creatures, in the economy of crea- 

 tion, is very obscure ; and owing to the places 

 they frequent, and the secrecy of their actions, 

 amidst mud and vegetation, we have little oppor- 

 tunity of becoming acquainted with their habits. 

 This hairworm^ however, is rather less mysterious 

 in its movements than some others ; and there is 

 cause to suppose that its chief occupation is that of 

 forming perforations and openings in clayey soils, 

 admitting, by this means, water to pervade the mass, 

 and open it ; the finer roots of vegetables then find 

 entrance, and part it yet more, or decay in it, and 

 meliorate and fertilize the substance. 



Wonderful as all the appointments and endow- 

 ments of insects are, there is no part of their 

 economy more extraordinary than the infinite 



