296 OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS AND VEEMES. 



On the 2nd of March, 1777, 1 saw great numbers of ants come out of 

 the ground. MAKKWICK. 



GLOW-WORMS. 



By observing two glow-worms which were brought into the field to the 

 bank in the garden, it appeared to us that these little creatures put out 

 their lamps between eleven and twelve, and shine no more for the rest 

 of the night. 



Male glow-worms, attracted by the light of the candles, come into the 

 parlour. WHITE. 



EAKTH-WORMS. 



Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather about March and 

 April ; they do not lie torpid in winter, but come forth when there is 

 no frost ; they travel about in rainy nights, as appears from their 

 sinuous tracks on the soft muddy soil, perhaps in search of food. 



When earth-worms lie out a-nights on the turf, though they extend 

 their bodies a great way, they do not leave their holes, but keep the 

 ends of their tails fixed therein, so that on the least alarm they can 

 retire with precipitation under the earth. Whatever food falls within 

 their reach when thus extended, they seem to be content with, such as 

 blades of grass, straws, fallen leaves, the ends of which they often draw 

 into their holes ; even in copulation their hinder parts never quit their 

 holes ; so that no two, except they lie within reach of each other's 

 bodies, can have any commerce of that kind ; but as every individual is 

 an hermaphrodite, there is no difficulty in meeting with a mate, as 

 would be the case were they of different sexes. WHITE. 



SNAILS AND SLUGS. 



The shell-less snails called slugs are in motion all the winter in mild 

 weather, and commit great depredations on garden plants, and much 

 injure the green wheat, the loss of which is imputed to earth-worms ; 

 while the shelled snail, the *6peoi/cos, does not come forth at all till 

 about April 10 ih, and not only lays itself up pretty early in autumn, in 

 places secure from frost, but also throws out round the mouth of its 

 shell a thick operculum formed from its own saliva ; so that it is per- 



