I have often observed
the same fact, and generally the mouths of the burrows are
protected by an accumulation of pebbles, sticks or leaves. Mr.
Farrer likewise observed that the worms living beneath the floor of
the atrium often collected coarse grains of sand, and such little
stones as they could find, round the mouths of their burrows.
Sept. 13th; soft wet weather. The mouths of the burrows were re-
opened, or castings were ejected, at 31 points; these were all
defaced.
Sept. 14th; 34 fresh holes or castings; all defaced.
Sept. 15th; 44 fresh holes, only 5 castings; all defaced.
Sept. 18th; 43 fresh holes, 8 castings; all defaced.
The number of castings on the surrounding fields was now very
large.
Sept. 19th; 40 holes, 8 castings; all defaced.
Sept. 22nd; 43 holes, only a few fresh castings; all defaced.
Sept. 23rd; 44 holes, 8 castings.
Sept. 25th; 50 holes, no record of the number of castings.
Oct. 13th; 61 holes, no record of the number of castings.
After an interval of three years, Mr. Farrer, at my request, again
looked at the concrete floor, and found the worms still at work.
Knowing what great muscular power worms possess, and seeing how
soft the concrete was in many parts, I was not surprised at its
having been penetrated by their burrows; but it is a more
surprising fact that the mortar between the rough stones of the
thick walls, surrounding the rooms, was found by Mr.
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