ANNULATA 



STUDY OF LIVE EARTHWORMS 

 1. Collecting. 



(1) Habitat. Dig for earthworms in various kinds of soil — 



loose and open, compact, rich, poor, wet, and dry 

 soils. 



(a) In which soil are the earthworms most numerous? 



(b) How do their depths in these soils vary? 



(2) Homes or burrows. 



(a) In what direction do the burrows extend? Is there 



any connection between them? 



(b) Are they lined? If so, with what? 



(c) Do the earthworms stop up the entrances to their 



holes? If so, with what? 



(d) How large are their holes? Why are they of this 



size? 



(e) Is there any food stored up in these burrows? If 



so, what? 



(f) Carefully dig up a cubic foot of soil where you find the 



earthworms numerous, let it dry thoroughly, then 

 break it in two. 



(1) Trace the burrows. 



(2) Sketch a section, showing several. 



(3) How many openings do you find at the surface on 



a square foot? How many would there be at 

 the same rate in an acre? 



(3) Activities. 



(a) Do you find the earthworms active in the daytime? 



(b) Take a lantern and look for them at night, going very 



quietly. 

 (1) Do you find them out of the burrows at night? 

 Look carefully and see if they are entirely out 

 of them. Try to pull one out. What does it 

 do? How? 



