IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 313 
sides of the soft little fellow are rows of tiny hooks, so small we 
can't see them, and when the body is drawn up partly into the hole, 
these rows of hooks spring out and fasten on to the side of the 
hole. So Mr. Worm gives another push with his sharp nose, the 
hooks hold fast, and in he goes another inch or two. Isn't that 
wonderful ? 
There's another sort of a worm, though, that 
goes in a very odd way. It is called the measuring 
worm. I dare say you've often seen it. It is about 
i an inch long, and has two feet at each end of its 
body. They are tiny bits of feet, and the unfortu- 
nate worm can't walk as other four-footed creatures can. First, he 
fixes his fore feet in a good place, and then draws his hind feet up 
to them, while his body makes a loop in the air, of course. Then 
he takes hold with his hind feet and stretches out his length again, 
finding a new place to fix his fore feet. So he goes on, measuring 
off the inches quite fast. 
I want to tell you a little story about one of these droll little 
worms. I once knew a young girl who always wanted to laugh 
just when she mustn't, — did you ever know any one who felt like 
her? Well, one day in church, she chanced to get a sight of a 
measuring worm. It was looping its wav up the broadcloth back 
of a respectable old gentleman who sat in front of her. Of course, 
she was interested to see what would become of the impertinent 
fellow, so she watched him. When he reached the top of the stiff 
white collar, he stopped to reconnoitre, and for a moment was un- 
decided, but then he caught a lock of hair, and on he went, busy 
as ever. By this time the watcher had forgotten where she was, 
and was totally absorbed in the movements of the worm. Higher 
and higher he mounted, till he reached the broad, white top of the 
bald head, and on the highest point he came to a stand. Fastening 
his hind feet, he raised himself to his full length, turned his head 
this way and that, anxiously looking for a higher place to climb. 
The girl was so amused with his droll air of concern that she 
laughed out loud! Her neighbors looked at her in horror, and she 
tried to appear as though she hadn't done anything. 
Some little fellows that live in the sea have queer ways of 
getting about. Fishes, of course, swim easily around ; but there's 
the little scallop. He lives in two of those pretty round shells, with 
fluted edges, that are so pretty to make pin-cushions in, and he 
