Ways of the Earthworm 
which also tends to preserve the land level and to cover 
natural rubbish, such as vegetable litter and stones. In this 
way it is said the whole of the superficial earth of any 
fertile field passes every few years through the bodies of 
these dumb, insignificant delvers. 
The reason the earthworm is so fond of eating dirt is 
probably because he can extract from it certain microscopic 
organisms that inhabit it and which he finds nutritious. 
He rivals the goat in omniverousness, however, for he will 
swallow anything that fits his mouth, and those who pro¬ 
fess to know all about him credit him with a pretty taste 
in small stones and bits of glass. Judged from a human 
standpoint, he keeps very bad hours, being as a rule out 
all night. In fact, one rarely sees him abroad by day, un¬ 
less after a shower when he comes up for a bath or a drink 
for he is a thirsty soul and has no use for neighborhoods 
that are dry. If he had any say in ordering the universe 
he would probably abolish moles and robins. The former 
catch and eat him below the ground and the latter on top. 
Indeed, even within his'.own jtfoorwa^ fre is liable to be 
pounced upon by the robin, -&nd* ©fie of th£ ‘delectable sights 
of the year to small boys of all ages is to see the bird brac¬ 
ing himself in the grass with his stiff legs, while with his 
head drawn back he hauls the resisting, attenuated worm 
slowly but remorselessly out of his hole. 
April 20.—A name full of suggestive beauty given by 
the English to one of their spring blossoms, is wake-robin. 
We have imported the name into America and attached it 
to quite another sort of flower; so that while the wake- 
robin of the old world is a kind of Jack-in-the-pulpit, the 
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