Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-28

Humble Creatures Which Play an Impor-
tant Part In Mature.

WORMS THAT LIVE IN EARTH.
Humble Creatures which Play an Impor.
tant Part in Mature.
Hov THEY MAKE THE EARTH rRurrrul-soAr
OF THEIR CURIOUS HABirs-5S, III OF THKx ~
AN ACRE OF eARDES-PoINrs 40 TO rHEIR
ASArohS-ForSp FROM ICELAND 70 TIER Ant
ARCTIC.
MIL DR. CHARLES DARWIN MADE
ms study OF earth worms no scquaint-
ance was had by science with The work Of these
humble creatures that play 80 important part
in the world, all the soil Of which has been rem
dered fruitful by being passed through their
bodies.
Earth worms are distributed throughout the
entire world, being found even on the most re-
mote islands. Although land animals they are
In sense semi-aquatic. Whereas exposure 20
dry air for a few hours is fatal 10 them. they
have been kept alive in water for several
months. They are nocturnal in their habits.
and at night may sbe seen crawling about in
large numbers, usually with their tails inserted
in their burrows. Their bodies are armed with
short bristles, by means Of which they cling 20
their holes, SO that il is difficult 10 drag them
out
These worms commonly lie for hours together
close beneath the nouths of their burrows. 40
thst their heads Just be seon bv looking
down. This habit of theirs causes their de-
sIructlon 10 an enormous extent, inasmuch as
thrushes, blackbirds and other fea;hered orca-
lures take them unawares and draw them out of
tneir holes IN large numbers. especially in the
morning. 1t is probable that they lie near the
81, Tor the sake of warmth. They do not
like cold, and to prevent their bodies from com
ing into close contact with the damp and chilly
earth they line their burrows with leaves
THEIR SINGULAR STRUCTURE.
The body Of large earth worm consists Of
from 100 to 200 rings or segments. each fur
nished with minute bristles. BY means of a
weli-developed muscular system the animal can
can crawl backward as well rs forward. and.
when ITS tau is fixed in the mouth of its hole il
can retreat into the latter with extraordinary
rapidity. 1t has mouth and throa. as well as
gizzard, which grinds the food swallowed.
The gizzard generally contains small stones
which are supposed TO be taken in for the pur-
pose OF assisting digestion. Earthworms breathe
through their skin, possessing no special or
gans of respiration; they have no eyes, and the
two sexes are united in the same individual
Although they are entirely blind they are sensi-
tive enough to light to be able to distinguish be-
tween day and night Thus they escape many
dangers which would threaten them from dur
nal animals that prey upon them. They do not
possess any sense OF hearing. DIR. Darwin
found that they took not the least notice of the
shrili notes from a metal whistle and thew were
indifferent to shouts." Their sense of smell
n very feeble, but they perceive very well by
touch. Although their nervous system is well
developed 1t is doubted whether they suffer ar
much pain when injured they seem to ex-
press by their contortions.
NOT PARTICULAR As TO DIET.
Earth worms are omnivorous. They swallow
Quantities of earth continually, out of which
they extract any digestible matter which il may
contain. They also consume hals-decayed
leaves Of all kinds, except q few which have an
unpleasant taste or are too tough. From such
leaves they chiefly obtain their sustenance
They pass the winter season either singly or
rolled up with others into a ball at the bottom
OF their burrows, which during that time of
year are closed at the top. They devote much
of their attention to gathering leaves, decayed
twigs and small refuse of all sorts for the pur-
pose Of plugging up their holes and to line the
upper parts of the latter.
To accomplish this object they work hard
at gathering such materials. often protecting
the mouths Of their burrows with little heaps Of
stones, when they cannot obtain leaves, sticks,
&c. Such heaps of smooth, rounded pebbles
may frequently be seen on gravel walks. A
lady who was interested in the habits of worms
on one occasion removed the little heap of
stones from the mouths OF several holes, and
cleared the surface Of the ground for some
inches all around. On the following night she
went out with a lantern and saw the worms,
with their tails fixed in their burrows dragging
the stones inward with their mouths After
two nights some Of the holes had eight or nine
small stones over them; after four nights one
had thirty and another thirty-four stones.
MI had A.
gravel walk to the mouth of a burrow, weighed
two ounces, which proves how strong worms
are. Sometimes they show greater strength by
displacing stones in a well-trodden gravel walk
Work OF this kind is usually performed during
the night 1t is not known what advantage the
worms derive from plugging up the mouths of
their holes or from piling stones over them,
but presumably II is done for protection against
enemies, as we'll as to keep out the cold night
air They excavate their burrows with wonder
full speed, the process being effected in two
ways-by pushing away the earth on all sides
and by swallowing it.
CAN LIVE CHEAPLY.
There is plenty of organic matter in ordinary
mold for the support of earth worms, including
many eggs and Larvae Of insects, as well as
small living and dead creatures There are
certain species found in damp places in the
tropics which possess trap-like bladders beau
U1ullN CONSTRUCTED lOr catcnlng minute subter-
ranean animals. Earth worms eagerly devour
raw meat and dead worms. Although they
usually live near the surface of the ground
vet they burrow TO a considerable depth during
long-continued dry weather and severe
cold. They have been discovered as far down
ms eight feet. The burrows run perpendicu-
larly or a little obliquely and are lined with
thin layer of fine, dark-colored earth voided by
the worms.
The lining thus formed is very compact and
smooth. closely fitting the worms body. 1t
strengthens the walls Of the burrow. which NAV
be likened to q tunnel lined with cement and
saves the occupants skin from being scratched.
Often the hole terminates in q small enlarge
ment or chamber, where one or more worms
pass the winter. These chambers are lined
with little stones and seeds, TO prevent contact
with the surrounding cold soil. After swallow
ing EARTH whether for making its burrow or for
food, the worm comes to the surface to empty
its body. thus forming what are called cast
ings." In the case of certain giant earth worms
of India and Ceylon, such castings are some
times four inches or more in height and seem
to be constructed with considerable skill.
HOW THEY DO GOOD.
The earth thus voided by worms, If spread
out uniformly, would form in most places in
the course of a year a layer one-fifth Of an inch
in thickness. Inasmuch as the process is
carried on increasingly, the mold from below
being continually brought to the surface, il is