AND WORM ANGLING. 175 



follows : " Secured as the worm appears to be by 

 its residence in the earth from the capture of 

 creatures inhabiting a different element, yet many 

 aquatic animals seem well acquainted with it, and 

 prey on it as a natural food whenever it falls in 

 their way." 



Within the last two or three years we have 

 made many investigations in the river-beds of the 

 Tweed and Teviot and other smaller waters, and 

 from these we have learned how it comes that fishes 

 have such a relish for worms. We found that many 

 more worms reside in the river-beds, under water, 

 than could be found by digging in an equal surface 

 of earth along the water's edge. We knew many 

 years ago, as no doubt many anglers also know, that 

 worms were not uncommon under the pebbles in 

 river-beds; but not until a comparatively recent 

 date did we know that they are so very numerous. 

 We have often found two or three worms below a 

 single pebble, and we got them from where the 

 water scarcely covered the stones, to a depth of 

 twelve or fourteen inches; and where the stones 

 were imbedded in clayey soil we found at least a 

 worm for every third or fourth stone turned over. 

 Where the stones had clay beds the worms too 

 were larger than where the stones were lying on 



