NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



that the earth without worms would soon become cold, hard-bound, 

 and void of fermentation, and consequently steril ; and, besides, in 

 favour of worms, it should be hinted that green corn, plants, and 

 flowers, are not so much injured by them as by many species of 

 coleoptera (scarabs), and tipul<z (long-legs) in .their larva, or grub- 

 state ; and by unnoticed myriads of small shell-less snails, called 

 slugs, which silently and imperceptibly make amazing havoc in the 

 field and garden.* 



These hints we think proper to throw out in order to set the 

 inquisitive and discerning to work. 



A good monography of worms would afford much entertainment 

 and information at the same time, and would open a large and new 

 field in natural history. Worms work most in the spring ; but by 

 no means lie torpid in the dead months : are out every mild night 

 in the winter, as any person may be convinced that will take the 

 pains to examine his grass-plots with a candle ; are hermaphrodites, 

 and much addicted to venery, and consequently very prolific. 



I am, &c. 



* Fanner Young, of Norton Farm, says, that this spring (1777) about four acres of his 

 wheat in one field was entirely destroyed by slugs, which swarmed on the blades of corn, 

 and devoured it as fast as it sprang. 



