Ill 



to in the old adage, "it is the early bird that catches the 

 worm ;" the robin may be seen to pull them up any morning 

 by those who rise as early as the early bird. As has been 

 stated, the ground worm is very low in the scale of animal 

 life, — having but little besides the extremity of a tube for a 

 mouth, while it can neither see nor hear, and its sense of taste, 

 if it has any, must be of the simplest. If we take a lantern 

 and go out at night, after a summer shower, we will find the 

 ground in old gardens abounding with them, stretched some- 

 times to a foot in length over the surface, and all in slow mo- 

 tion. We may bring the light as near them as we please, 

 provided they do not feel the heat of the flame, and they 

 show no consciousness of its presence ; we may clap our 

 hands, or make other noise, provided we cause no vibration 

 of the ground, and still they show no consciousness ; but if 

 we now stamp with the foot, or in any way cause a vibration 

 of the ground, simultaneously every one within reach of it 

 will instantly draw into his hole. If they are very numer- 

 ous, a singular effect of this sudden, instantaneous withdraw- 

 ing is to give an impression that the earth has moved under 

 our feet, and cause a slight feeling of giddiness. While they 

 appear to be so insensible to lamp light, (I have not exposed 

 them to it for any length of time,) why do they retire at the 

 approach of day ? Can it be that natural light exercises any 

 chemical action on their bodies? Those in the vicinity of any 

 stronsT manure I have noticed are not as laro^e as the averasfc, 

 but are more intensely red, and sometimes quite yellow iu 

 color. Can it be that these are of a species or variety differ- 

 ent from the common angle worm? 



In the heat of summer by day they retire to the bottom of 

 their holes, as the boys know who dig for them in vain for 

 bait, (dig for them late in the evening, boys, when the^'^come 

 up to the surface,) and there they may be found, rolled into 

 a ball, or tied up into a knot, (probably they were the first 

 of knot-tyers.) Doubtless this is to prevent the too great 

 evaporation of the slimy moisture which appears a necessity 



