VERMES. 27 



8. Look for cilia clothing the surface of the body. 



(Use powdered carmine to demonstrate their 

 movement.} 



9. Do these animals move either backwards or sidewise ? 



2. THE EARTHW^ORM. 

 A. Habitat and Habits. 



1. Field Study. 



These questions should be answered after observing 

 earthworms in their natural habitat, i.e. lawns, 

 vacant lots, gardens, etc. The observations 

 should continue through two or three weeks if 

 possible. 



a. How can you recognize earthworm burrows ? 



h. Are these burrows more numerous at one time 

 than another ? 



c. How deep did you have to dig to find earthworms ? 



d. What kind of soil do they prefer ? Why ? 



e. Do they like to live either in wet soil or in water ? 

 /. Estimate the number of worms living in an acre 



of soil or in a vacant city lot (25 x 175 ft.). 

 g. Why are they so abundant on the surface after 



heavy rains ? 

 h. Report any other interesting facts which you 



observed concerning earthworms. 



2. Home or Laboratory Study. 



Fill a deep box, about 1 x 2 ft. in size, two-thirds 

 full of loamy soil. Put three or four dozen earth- 

 worms in the soil and press it down firmly, leaving 

 the surface smooth. Scatter bits of hoth fresh and 

 decaying leaves and other possible food materials 

 over the surface of the soil, together with a few 



