File:Aquatic life (1916-1917) (19125979803).jpg

Title: Aquatic life
Identifier: aquaticlife219161917baus (find matches)
Year: 1916-1917 (1910s)
Authors: Bausman, Joseph E
Subjects: Aquariums; Fish culture
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. E. Bausman
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
I Tne EarthvJorn: A Fish Food i 4 JOHN R. BASCOTT ; 4 _=_^ _^ ^ 4
Text Appearing After Image:
OtOned ty JoKn Mc Ginnis OvJned by W. H. HeimbacK YOUNG CALICO TELESCOPE BROAD-TAIL GOLDFISH The type you are proud to possess at the close of the outdoor season If one asked "^^'hat is an earthworm?" the probable answer would be "food for fishes." True, and fine food, but there the question would likely rest. Its skin is soft and naked, and protected with a coating of slime. The body consists of from one hundred to two hundred rings, each provided with minute bristles. It is these bristles that enable the worm to so successfully resist being pulled from its hole, even though it be rent apart The muscular system is well developed, and the animals can crawl backward and forward. The internal organs are rathei simple, though to describe them thor- oughly would require many pages. In brief, it has a pharynx, which is pushed forward when it eats. This conducts to the oesophagus, which is enlarged into a crop in front of the gizzard. The latter organ opens into the intestine, which runs in a straight line to the vent. Tiny grains of sand are found in the gizzard and intestine, and probably serve to grind the food. Respiration is carried on through the whole surface of the body. Eyes and ears are not present, but the animal is sensitive to light and sound. Each individual unites the two sexes in its body, but two worms pair together. The eggs are contained in a sort of cocoon formed of mucus, which hardens when exposed to the air. The earthworm feeds on vegetable sub- stances contained in the soil, so that it is constantly swallowing earth to obtain nu- triment. It plays a most important part in the economy of Nature, as, by break- ing up and mixing the soil and by drag- ging leaves into its burrow, it has tilled and manured the earth for ages. They are found throughout the world. Though

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