CHAl'TliR V 



THI': liARTHWUKM -CHARACTERS DK IIIE PHYLU-M ANNULATA 



Thk general form and appearance of an earthworm are 

 familiar to every one. In this countr\' there are a number 

 of different species of earthworms belonging to several 

 genera, the commonest of which are Luinbricua and Allo- 

 lolwphora ; but the differences between these are of minor 

 importance to the beginner, and any one of the common 

 forms will serve our purpose. 



Earthworms burrow into the soil and live on decaying 

 leaves and other organic matter, which they swallow to- 

 gether with a considerable quantit)- of earth. This earth, 

 mingled with the undigested portions of the food, is 

 |)assed from tile body on to the surface of the ground in the 

 form of the well-known little heaps or " castings ' which )'0U 

 must have noticed in gardens and fields, especially after 

 rain, when the worms come more frequently to the surface. 

 In this way, a (juantity of finely divided earth, mixed with 

 the fffices of the worms, is constantly being spread 

 out on the surface of the soil, and Darwin calculated 

 that on an average a layer of earth about one- 

 fifth mch in thicl<ness or aljuut ten tons an acre is thus 

 broLight lo the surface in the course of a \'car. liarth- 

 wornis are therefore good friends to the liardencr and 



