THE EARTHWORM. 139 



it passes the openings of the oviducts on segment 14, 

 ova are discharged into it ; and in passing segments 11 

 to 9 it receives sperms that have been stored in the 

 seminal receptacles. When it is passed off over the head, 

 it closes elastically at both ends, forming a capsule. 

 Within this capsule fertilization takes place, and the 

 fertilized ova develop, and give rise to little worms, 

 which feed upon the nutrient fluid in which they float, 

 until they are able to make their own way in the world. 1 



1 Read Darwin's Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of 

 Worms. 



