The hole, or burrow, formed in the earth by the worm, always has two openings, one by which it enters, and by which it throws out the dirt which is removed during the progress of its excavation, and the other by which it sometimes leaves its burrow, so that the hole made by the animal would be much in this form, descending at a, and reaching the surface by b. It has been said, that the Earth-worm, if divided by the spade or otherwise, will unite again and live; the foundation for this appears to be the more probable fact, that, when divided, that portion of the animal in which the head is placed may, perhaps, survive the mutilation, and ultimately again become a perfect creature.
Although worms, after wet weather, sadly disfigure our gravel walks, they are, at the same time, useful gardeners, loosening the earth round the roots of plants, and thus rendering it more capable of receiving the small fibres of the roots. During the Winter they penetrate very deeply into the ground, and remain, according to Latreille, rolled up in a kind of nest, protected from injury by the discharge of mucus, which is furnished by the pores of their body.
The Earth-worm appears to have been a considerable favourite with the author of the Journal of a Naturalist; among other remarks, he observes, “There is another creature, and that a very important one in the operations of nature, that is surrounded by dangers, harassed, pursued incessantly, and becomes the prey of all; the common Earth-worm. This animal, destined to be the natural manurer of the soil, and the ready indicator of an approved staple, consumes on the surface of the ground, where they soon would be injurious, the softer parts of decayed vegetable matter, and conveys into the soil the more woody fibres, where they moulder and become reduced to a simple nutriment, fitting for living vegetation. The parts consumed by them are soon returned to the surface, whence dissolved by frosts, and scattered by rains, they circulate again in the plants of the soil,
Death still producing life.
“Thus eminently serviceable as the Worm is, it yet becomes the prey of various orders of the animal creation, and perhaps is a solitary example of an individual race being subjected to universal destruction. The very emmet seizes it when disabled, and bears it away as its prize. It constitutes throughout the year the food of many birds; fishes devour it greedily; the hedgehog eats it; the mole pursues it unceasingly in the pastures, along the moist bottoms of ditches, and burrows after it through the banks of hedges, to which it retires in dry seasons. Secured as the Worm appears to be by its residence in the earth, from the capture of creatures inhabiting a different element, yet many aquatic animals seem well acquainted with it, and prey on it as a natural food, whenever it falls in their way: frogs eat it, and even the great water-beetle I have known to seize it, when the bait of the angler, and it has been drawn up by the hook. Yet notwithstanding this prodigious destruction of the animal, its increase is fully commensurate to its consumption, as if ordained the appointed food of all.
“Worms, generally speaking, are tender creatures, and water remaining over their haunts for a few days, drowns them. They easily become frozen, when a mortification commences at some part, which gradually consumes the whole substance, and we find them on the surface a mass of jelly. Their retiring deeper into the soil is no bad indication of approaching cold weather; but no sooner is the frost out of the ground, than they approach the surface.
“Earth-worms do considerable mischief to the floriculturist by drawing the young plants, immediately after they are transplanted, into the earth. In the drainage of lands they are of essential service, penetrating the clay that lies beneath the vegetable mould in every direction, and thus forming numerous small canals to carry off the water into the deep trenches dug by the agriculturist.” The author we have already quoted, after concluding this account of the Worm, says, “I would advocate the cause of all creatures, had I the privilege of knowing the excellency of them; not willingly assigning vague and fanciful claims to excite wonder, or manifesting a base pride by any vaunt of superior observation; but when we see, blind as we are, that all things are formed in justice, mercy, truth, I would tell my tale as a man, glory as a Christian, and bless the gracious Power that permitted me to obtain this knowledge.”
The Medicinal Leech, ([Hirudo medicinalis].)
The medicinal utility of the Leech seems, even in very remote times, to have been acknowledged by mankind, and accordingly we find it noticed in the writings of many ancient physicians. It was not simply applied to the cases in which it is at present employed, but was recommended to be used in many singular ways: a paste made of the ashes of a burnt leech was said to have the property of removing the hair from any part of the body. It was also employed to suck the blood from a wound occasioned by a mad dog, or any other rabid animal.
At present the employment of this useful creature is confined to the operation of drawing blood from inflamed parts of the surface of the body, for which use it is eminently adapted.