[Three Hundred Animals Contents]
These creatures constitute a class by themselves, under the name of Vermes, in the voluminous works of nomenclators. They are generally divided into four orders, which embrace the whole of these innumerable tribes which swarm and pullulate nearly every where. The Worm is distinguished from the caterpillar and maggot, on account of its undergoing no change, and crawls by means of the annular or spiral shape of its body.
The Earth Worm has neither bones, eyes, ears, or brains, as far as we can judge; and breathes, like others, through several punctures on each side of the body. It is reported that, like the polypus, the Earth Worm being cut in two, the head in a few weeks produces a tail, and the tail part generates a head.
The Tænia, or Tape-Worm, the shape of which is well expressed by its name, is bred in the inside of animals, and principally in the bowels of the human species. The author of these observations extracted, a few years ago, a Tape-Worm from the body of a ring-dove, to the length of more than three feet, at different times. The bird did not seem to labour under any uneasiness, although it lodged and boarded within itself so voracious and disagreeable a guest. Several other worms feed, like true parasites, within us when living, and when we are dead they devour our remains in the silent gloom of the grave. How then can Ambition, Pride, and Vanity place their throne in a heart, the present and future abode and prey of worms!!