Earth- Worms in History. 50 



acetic acid, and as they do not always suffice to render of no 

 effect the contents of the upper part of the alimentary canal, 

 it is probable that the lime is aggregated into concretions, in 

 the anterior pair of glands, in order that some may be con- 

 veyed to the posterior parts of the intestine, where these 

 concretions would be rolled about among the acid contents. 

 The concretions found in the intestines and in the castings 

 often present a worn appearance, but whether due to attrition 

 or chemical corrosion it is impossible to say. That they are 

 formed for the sake of acting as mill stones, as Claparede 

 believed, and of thus assisting in the trituration of food, is 

 not at all likely, as this object is already attained by the 

 stones that are present in the gizzards and intestines. 



In dragging leaves into their burrows worms generally 

 seize the thin edge of a leaf with their mouths, between the 

 projecting upper and lower lip, the thick and strong pharynx 

 at the same time being pushed forwards within their bodies, 

 so as to afford a point de resistance for the upper lip ; but in 

 the case of broad and flat objects the pointed anterior 

 extremity of the body, after being brought into contact with 

 an object of this kind, is drawn within the adjoining rings, 

 so that it becomes truncated and as thick as the rest of the 

 body. This part is then seen to swell a little, seemingly 

 from the pharynx being pushed a little forwards. By a 

 slight withdrawal of the pharynx, or by its expansion, a 

 vacuum is produced beneath the truncated, slimy end of 

 the body whilst in contact with the object, and by this 

 means the two adhere firmly together. Worms can attach 

 themselves to an object in the same manner under the water. 



As worms have no teeth, and their mouths consist of 

 very soft tissue, it may be presumed that they consume by 

 means of suction of the edges and parenchyma of fresh 

 leaves after they have been softened by the digestive fluid. 

 They cannot attack such strong leaves as those of sea-kale 

 or large and thick leaves of ivy. They not only seize leaves 

 and other objects for purposes of food, but for plugging up 



