The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-17
EARTHwoRMs As WORKERS.
By c. +. Marshall, VI. d., p. Sc, f.
"a. {. 5.
From knowledge.

From knowledge
The common earthworm, despised by
man and heedlessly trodden under foot,
fulflls a part in nature that would seem
incredible but for the facts revealed by
the patient and long-contnued researches
of Darwin. Worms" says Darwin, have
played a more important part in the his
tory of the world than most persons would
at first suppose" Let us follow Darwin and
see how this apparently insignificant crea-
ture has changed the face of nature. We
Will first consider the habits and mode of
life of the earthworm. As every one knows
the worms live in burrows in the super
fetal layer of the ground. They can 1--we
anywhere in layer of earth, provided il
retains moisture, dry air being fatal to
them. They can, on the other hand, exist
submerged in water for several months.
They live chiefly in the superficial mould
less than foot below the surface. but
in long-continued dry weather and in very
depth of eight feet The burrows are lined
by a thin layer of earth, Voided by the
worms, and end in small chambers in
which they can turn around.
The burrows are formed partly by push
ing away the earth, but chiefly by the
earth being swallowed. Large quantities
of earth are swallowed by the worms for
the sake of the decomposing vegetable
matter contained in it, on which they feed
The earth thus swallowed is Voided in spi-
raj heaps, forming the worm castings in
this way the worm obtains food and at the
same time excavates its burrows.
In addition to the food thus obtained.
half-decayed leaves are dragged into the
burrows mainly for food, but also to plug
the mouths of the burrows for the sake of
protection. Worms are also fond of meat
especially fat; they will also eat the dead
bodies Of their relatives. They are noe
turnal in habit, remaining, as a rule in
the burrows during the day, and coming
out to feed at night.
The leaves dragged into the burrows are
moistened by a fluid secreted by the
worm. of digestive nature, and the food
is thus partly digeSted before being swal-
lowed. The digestive fluid of the earth
worm resembles the pancreatic Juice of
higher animals, ana only acts when al
kaline. Various acids are produced by
decaying vegetable matter, and similar
changes occur in the leaves swallowed by
worms. Now if some of this acid was
not neutralized, digestion could not take
place. because the digestive fluid is aka
line. This is avoided by the action Of some
small glands, called the calciferous
glands, opening into the alimentary ca
nal. These glands secrete carbonate of
lime, which neutralizes the acids gener-
ated in the decaying leaves.
The earthworm has no eyes. but is af-
fected by strong light if exposed to il
for some time. 1t has no sense of hear
ing. but is sensitive to the vibrations of
sound. The whole body is sensitive to
touch. There appears to be some sense
of smell. but this is limited to certain
articles of food, which are discovered hv
the worm when buried in earth, in prefer
ence to other bodies not relShed The
worm appears 10 nave some degree of
intelligence from the way in which it
draws the leaves into its burrows. always
judging which is the best end to draw
them in by. This is remarkable in so
lowly organized an animal, being a de
gree of intelligence not possessed by
many animals of more complex organiZa-
ton. For instance. the ant can often be
seen dragging objects along transverselv
instead of taking them the easiest way
As we have seen, vast quantities of
earth are continually being passed through
the bodies of worms and voided on the sur
face as castings When it is stated thar
the number of worms in an acre of ordin.
airy land, suitable for them TO live in is
$1,000, we can imagine the great effec-
which they must have on the soil They
are. in fact, continually plOughing the
land. At one part of the alimentarv canal
of the worm is the gizzard. or hard INNS.
cular organ. capable of grinding food into
fine particles. 1t is this gizzard which i
the main factor in trituraung the soil.
and it is aided by small stones swallowej
with the earth. which act as millstones
The earth is thus continually passing
through the mill formed by the gizzarSs
Of worms, and is reduced to fine mould
Again, froh the collapsing Of the old bur