68 HABITS OP WORMS. Chap. II 



the first lot of 227) pulled out of worm- 

 burrows, 63 per cent, had been drawn in by 

 the tip ; 27 per cent, by the base, and 10 per 

 cent, transversely. We here see that a far 

 larger proportion, viz., 27 per cent, were 

 drawn in by the base than in the case of 

 lime leaves, the blades of which are very 

 broad at the base, and of which only 4 per 

 cent, had thus been drawn in. We may 

 perhaps account for the fact of a still larger 

 proportion of the laburnum leaves not hav- 

 ing been drawn in by the base, by worms 

 having acquired the habit of generally draw 

 ing in leaves by their tips and thus avoid- 

 ing the foot-stalk. For the basal margin of 

 the blade in many kinds of leaves forms a 

 large angle with the foot-stalk ; and if such a 

 leaf were drawn in by the foot-stalk, the basal 

 margin would come abruptly into contact 

 with the ground on each side of the burrow, 

 and would render the drawing in of the leaf 

 very difficult. 



Nevertheless worms break through their 

 habit of avoiding the footstalk, if this part 

 offers them the most convenient means for 

 drawing leaves into their burrows. The le.avep 



