108 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
earth will serve as a suitable receptacle for the animals. Around 
this the class could be grouped in such a way that pupils would 
be sufficiently close for accurate observation. In larger classes 
some specimens in test tubes might be passed round, and a few of 
the pupils called to the front from time to time to help in the 
investigation. 
Like most of the other lessons—this one can be taken up at any 
stage, though, if it be dealt with during the earlier part of the 
course, it should receive very simple treatment. It seems better 
to defer it until the pupils have reached Sit or SII, when the 
investigation would be more likely to evoke interest, and would he 
better understood. The younger children for instance would find 
much difficulty in appreciating the purposes served by a moist 
skin, or the uses of the animal as a benefactor of mankind. 
The method of locomotion and burrowing can be learnt from 
observation if the worms be placed in a box of earth as suggested, 
and a few judicious questions will elicit why the animal is 
nocturnal and avoids the sun. To see the worm feeding pupils 
would have to make observations on their own account at nights. 
This again could be better undertaken by the older pupils. The 
animals’ sense of touch, hearing, etc., can be made the subject 
of interesting experiments. The clapping of one’s hands or the 
striking together of two pieces of wood does not disturb them, 
from which we conclude they are deaf. A bright light suddenly 
introduced into a previously dark room causes them to shrink 
back into their burrows: having no eyes we infer they are blind, 
but for all that they must be sensitive to light. If the box in 
which they are placed be tapped, even gently, they at once set 
‘about retreating to their burrows—that is they feel the smallest 
vibration or have a very keen sense of touch. The food is no 
doubt discovered mainly by sense of smell which must be very 
highly developed. 
The Earthworm is one of the best subjects for bringing home to 
children the great importance of apparently insignificant creatures 
and serves, moreover, to bring into contact with many useful 
details those pupils who will afterwards be taking up courses 
of agriculture, or who are already engaged in that work. 
