302 FRIEND: ON HYBRIDITY AMONG WORMS. 
a pair of unusually fine specimens, so securely locked in each other's 
penetrate, but the densest darkness prevails. Add to this the 
further fact that when they pair above the ground the process is 
commenced at night, and usually terminates when the light returns, 
that the worms may hie to their burrows ere the proverbial early 
bird picks them off, and the evidence is complete on that score. 
Worms have no eyes, and do not need light to enable them to 
complete their round of sexual duties. 
t must be borne in mind that earthworms, like many other 
animals, and the majority of plants, are hermaphrodite. There is, 
however, more than one form of hermaphroditism. A plant may 
bear flowers which yield both stamens and pistils, and if the pollen 
from the former falls on a style of the same blossom, the ovules may 
be fertilised and the seeds rendered capable of germination. In 
other plants, however, like the primrose, one flower yields up its 
pollen for that brought from a different plant, and self-fertilisation is 
either impossible, or will be resorted to only in case of emergency. 
Some hermaphrodite flowers, again, are absolutely incapable of self- 
fertilisation, and these may be taken to represent the earthworm. 
The ovules of one must be brought into vital contact with the 
spermatozoa of another. In the case of flowers, insects are the chief 
agents for the transport of the pollen, but worms must themselves g° 
in search of other worms in order that the life-germs may successfully 
coalesce. 
Some forms of animal life, which are either destitute of the sense 
of vision, or cannot use it for these purposes even when possessed, 
are able to employ other methods for the accomplishment of their 
ends, Thus we find the organs of smell so fully developed in some 
insects that they depend entirely upon this sense for detecting the 
whereabouts of their mates. Others make a variety of sounds, 
depending upon the organs of hearing for securing the attention of 
those they wish to charm. So far as we can gather, however, earth- 
worms are destitute of hearing, and their sense of smell is only in a 
very elementary stage of development so far as we can judge by 
ordinary tests. Yet, if they do not possess some peculiar sense of 
touch, or a sixth sense whose action we mortals are incapable of 
appreciating, it must be largely by means of taste organs, OF the 
ability to detect certain scents, that worms identify one another. 
t this point we are led to inquire whether the power possessed 
by certain species of worms to secrete a variety of fluids may 2Ot 
