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i 
to examine this white substance, and, to his surprise, h 
found it to consist of the crushed bones which had been laij e 
on the surface some years previously. In the course of id 
conversation he asked me if I could account for the altered 
position of the bones, and, in reply, I said it might possibly 
have been brought about by the operations of insects and 
worms, assisted by the mould from decayed vegetation. Mr. 
Mellor thought this explanation extremely probable, and 
gave me reasons for his belief. 
A brewer in the neighbourhood had a large quantity of 
unsaleable ale, which he proposed to convert into vinegar, 
and Mr. Mellor allowed him to place a great number of 
barrels of this ale in the field. The vinegar making was not, 
however, successful, and eventually the contents of the 
barrels were allowed to run on the surface of the field. On 
the following day, the heaps of worms which lay dead on 
the ground were so amazing, that if Mr. Mellor had not seen 
them, he would not have thought it possible for such num- 
bers to have existed in the space. 
In caves where large quantities of the bones of animals 
are found, there is frequently a considerable depth of earth 
between the layers of bones. Much of this earth may have 
fallen from the roofs of the caves, and some portion may be 
the accumulation of dust blown in bv the wind ; even in 
these cases the operations of worms and the larvse of insects 
may have assisted in the burying process. The animal mat- 
ter would attract and support a large amount of insect life, 
worms, etc. 
The operations of the lug- worms on the sea shore, during 
low water, are familiar examples of the transfer of a sub- 
stratum to the surface. Frequently the holes are of a very 
considerable depth. If these worms should happen to pass 
through differently coloured strata, they would leave per- 
manent records of their operations, as the^ returning tide 
would fill the holes with the surface material. 
Do geologists find any such records in ancient sea-beds ? 
I have no desire to attach great importance to the agencies 
