110 NATURAL HISTORY. 



any thing they have a mind to hold ; as is evident in their keeping 

 hold of the side of the hole in the ground, so as that the animal will 

 break before it can be pulled ont. 



This contact was so strong, that they did not separate upon being 

 cut through at the part which entered their holes, and also allowed 

 themselves to die in one another's embraces when put into spirits of 

 wine. At the annular part, in the angle between worm and worm, 

 were several white spots, which appeared like veiy small drops of milk, 

 which were removeable with the point of a pin. 



"Worms have four rows of claws running from one end of the animal 

 to the other, which are in pairs ; each ring having eight claws or four 

 pair. They are placed on the belly, and are pointed backwards ; they 

 do not appear to act as feet ; but when the head is moved forwards, 

 they hold till the tail is pulled forwards. 



They are composed of rings which serve as joints. At the union of 

 every two rings there is a transverse partition which fixes this part to 

 the intestine, so that the whole cavity of the worm is divided trans- 

 versely into as many chambers as there are rings (excepting at the 

 anterior end). These valves or diaphragms act as so many fixed points, 

 and always keep the external and internal parts properly together, or 

 in apposition : these diaphragms also make so many constrictions on the 

 intestine, which gut swells between them. At the anterior end the 

 external part of the worm is connected to the oesophagus by a soft 

 spongy substance : then the partitions begin, a little way before the 

 first heart. 



The oesophagus, stomach, and intestine is one straight canal running 

 from one end of the animal to the other. The oesophagus and intestine 

 swell into bags or kind of aneurisms between each diaphragm. The 

 stomach is composed of two parts ; the first, a pretty large bag, serving 

 as a kind of reservoir ; and then a gizzard part, or a circular ring, 

 which is strong and thick, capable of using considerable force upon the 

 food, and serve in the place of teeth, as in the fowl. 



TJie Copulation of the Earthworm. — The earthworm is a copulative 

 hermaphrodite. They copulate in the month of October*. They come, 

 in part, out of the ground, having their tail remaining some way in the 

 hole, so as to be able to make good a retreat. The fore part of the body lies 

 along the ground, and this protruding part is elongated or shortened 

 according to the distance they are from each other ; and they move 

 this exterior part round about the enclosed part, as round a centre 

 in search of a mate ; and when they meet with each other and touch, 

 they throw themselves on one side to oppose the under surface to each 

 * They also copulate in the beginning of the summer. 



