The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-11-04

CREATURES wHroH PLAY AN I'M
PORTANT PART IN NATURE.

CREATURES wHroH PLAY AN I'M
PoRTANT PART IN NATURE.
How They Make the Earth Fruitful
Their Curions Habits-53,7 TIT Of
Them to an Aero of Garden.
YNTIL DIR. Charles Darwin made
his study of earth worms no
acquaintance was had by
science with tho work of these
humble creatures that play so important
part in the world, all the sol. of which
has been rendered fruitful by being
passed through their bodies.
Earth worms are distributed through.
out the entire world, being found even
on the most remote islands. Although
land animals they are in sense semi
acquatic. Whereas exposure to a dry
air for few hours is fatal to them, they
have been kept alive in water for several
months. They are nocturnal in their
habits, and at night may be seen crawl
ing about In large numbers, usually with
their tails inserted in their burrows.
Their bodies are armed with short bris-
ties, by means of which they cling to
their holes, so that it is difficult to drag
them out.
The body Of aslarge earth worm con-
sists of from 100 to 300 rings or seq
,ments, each furnished with minute
bristles. BY means of well-developed
muscular system the animal can crawl
backward as WELL as forward, and,
wheat -tNn- 10 led in the mouth OF its
hole, it can retDeet into the latter with
extraordinary rapidity. It has a mouth
and throat as we'll as gizzard, which
grinds the food swallowed. Tho giz-
zard generally contains small stones,
which are supposed to be taken in for
the purpose of assisting digestion. Earth
worms breathe through their skin, pos
sessing no special organs of respiration;
they have no eyes, and the two sexes are
united in the same individual.
Although they are entirely blind they
are sensitive enough to light to be a5lo
to distinguish between day and night.
Thus they escape many dangers which
would threaten them from diurnal ami
mails that pray upon them. They do not
possess any sense Of hearing. DR.. Dar-
win found that they took not the least
notice of the shrill notes from metal
whistle and they were "indifferent to
shouts" Their sense of smell is very
feeble, but they perceive very we'll by
touch. Although their nervous system
is well developed it is doubted whether
they suffer as much pain when injured
as they seem to express by their coutor-
tions.
Earth worms are omnivorous. They
swallow quantities of earth continually,
out of which they extract auy digestibe
matter which it may contain. They also
consume half decayei leaves of all
kinds, except few which have an un-
pleasant taste or are too tough. From
such leaves they chiefly obtain their sus-
teuance. They pass the winter season
either singly or rolled up with others
into ball at the bottom of their bur-
rows, 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 purpose Of plugging up
their holes and to line the upper parts of
the latter.
There is plenty of organic matter in
ordinary mold for the support Of earth
worms, including many eggs aud larv@
of insects, as well as small living aud
dead creatures. There are certain spe.
cies found in damp places in the tropics
which possess trap like bladders, teau,
tifully constructed for catching minute
subterranean animals. Earth worms
eagerly devour raw meat and dead
worms. Although they usually live near
the surface of the ground, yet they bur-
row to considerable depth during long
continued dry weather and severe cold.
They have been discovered as far down
as eight feet. The burrows run perpeu-
dicularly or little obliquely, and are
lined with thin layer of fine, dark col
ored earth voided by the worms.
The lining thus formed is worry COM
pact and smooth, closely fitting the
worms body. 1t strengthens the walls
of the burrow, which may be likened to
tunnel lined with cement, and saves
the occupants skin from being scratched.
Often the hole terminates in small en-
largement or chamber, where one OF
more worms pass the winter. These
chambers are lined with little stones aud
reeds, to prevent contact with the 81 r.
rounding cold soil. After swallowing
earth, whether for making its burrow
or for food, the worm comes to the sur
face to empty its body, thus forming
what are called "castings." In the case
of certain giant earth worms of India
and Ceylon, such castings arc sometimes
four inches or more in height aud seem
to be constructed with considerable
skill.
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, it is
matter of ready calculation how long
it will take for the entire layer Of super.
fetal soil to be passed through the
worms body. It is estimated that on an
average acre of arabic land more than
ten tons of earth are annually swallowed
by worms and brought to che surface.
The importance of the work sccom.
plished by them in this fashion cannot