DEW WOfcM. 341 



Means of perforating the earth. 



Near its head is placed the heart, which may be 

 observed to beat with a very distinct motion. 

 The body is formed of small rings furnished with 

 a set of muscles that act in a spiral direction, and 

 which enable it in the most complete manner 

 possible to penetrate into or creep upon the 

 earth. The motion of these creatures may be 

 explained by a wire wound on a cylinder ; where, 

 when one end is drawn on and held fast, the 

 other, upon being loosed, will immediately fol- 

 low. These muscles enable them with great 

 strength to dilate or contract their bodies. The 

 annuli or rings are also each armed with small, 

 stiff, and sharp beards, or prickles; which they 

 have the power of opening out or closing to their 

 body. And under the skin is secreted a slimy 

 matter which they emit at the perforations be- 

 tween the annuli to lubricate the body, and faci- 

 litate their passage into the ground. By all 

 which means they are enabled with great ease to 

 perforate the earth ; which, had their bodies 

 been otherwise constructed, they could not so 

 well have done. 



These worms make their casts principally about 

 the months of March or April, in mild weather. 

 In rainy nights they travel about, as appears 

 from their sinuous tracks, on a soft muddy soil, 

 perhaps in search of food. When they appear 

 at night on the turf, although they considerably 

 extend their bodies, they do not quite leave their 



