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Show 54 TIABITS OF WORMS. CHAP. l neutralise more or less completely the acids there generated by the half-decayed leaves. \Ve have seen that these ce1ls are instantly dissolved by a small quantity of acetic acid, aud as they do not always suffice to neutralise the contents of even the upper part of the alimentary canal, the lime is perhaps ago-reo·ated into concretions in the anterior b 0 pair of glands, in order that some may be can·ied down to tLe posterior parts of tho intestine, where these concretions would be rolled about amongst tho acid contents. The concretions found in the intestines and in tho castings often have a worn appearance, but whether this is due to some amount of attrition or of chemical corrosion could not be told. Claparede believes that they are formed for the sake of acting as mill-stones, and of thus aiding in the trituration of the food. They may give some aid in this way; Lut I fully agree with Perrier that this must be of quite subordinate importance, seeing that the object is already attained by stones being generally present in the gizzm·ds and intestines of worms. 55 CIIAPTER II. IIAIH'l'S OF WORMS-continued. MaTn ner· in w. hich worms seize obJ'ccts-'l'het'r I'O we r o f sue t'J on-he m~t.ll1ct of plugging up the mouths of their burrows-- Stone~ plied over the burrows-The ad vantages thus craincdInt~ l!Igence shown by worms in their manner of plu~crincr up thCJr b,u,r~ows-Various kinds of leaves and other obj;~~s ~hm; used- Lnangles of paper-Summary of reasons for believincr t~at worms ~xhibit some intelligence-Means by which the; exc~vat~ thCtr burrows, by pushing away the earth and swallo~ mg. 1t-Earth nlso swallowed for the nutriLiouB matter whiCh 1t ~ontains-Depth to which worms burrow, nncl the cons~ruct10n of their burrows-Burrow~ lined with castincrs, a.nd m the upper part with lcaves-'l'hc lowest part paved with l~ttle stou,es or seeds-Manner ill which the caBtings are ~Jected~'l he collapse of olu burrow~;-Distribution of worms- To. w.e r.- like cas,t 1'ncor s 1· 0 Be nga l- G1' gant1·C castm. gs on the Ntlgm Mountains-Casting::; ejected in all countries. IN the pots in which worms were kept leaves were pinned down to tho soil and. at night the manner in which they' were seized could be observed. The worms always endeavoured to drag the leave~ towards their burrows; and they tore or sucked off small fragments, whenever the leaves were suffi- |
