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These bristles point backwards. If we move a finger along the worm from the head to the tail, the body feels quite smooth; but if we gently rub the worm the other way—from the tail to the head—we can easily feel the stiff bristles.
這些剛毛朝向后方。用一根手指從蚯蚓的頭部摸向其尾部, 就會感覺它的身體非常光滑；然而, 如果我們換個方向來撫摸蚯蚓（從尾部到頭部）, 就很容易感覺到它身上的堅硬剛毛。
The earth-worm's body is very elastic. It pushes its head forward in the direction in which it wants to go; it then sticks into the soil the bristles which are near the head, and pulls forward the rest of its body.
蚯蚓的身體非常靈活。如果它想朝某個方向前進, 就會將頭部指向那里, 然后把頭部附近的剛毛插入土壤中向前推動身體。
The body of the earth-worm is covered with slime , which helps it to burrow in the ground, for its wet slimy body passes easily through the soft earth.
蚯蚓的身體外包裹著粘液, 這樣可以幫助它在泥土中鉆行, 因為黏滑、濕潤的身體能夠輕松地在柔軟的泥土中穿梭。
A great many worms live in the soil of every field and garden. If you wish to see how many worms there are, you should go out into your garden or to a grassy lawn on a warm, damp evening after dark, and take a lantern with you. Then you will see perhaps hundreds of worms, each keeping just the end of its tail in its hole or burrow, and moving its head and body about in search of water and food. You must step very softly; for if the earthworms hear you coming, they will quickly pull themselves back into their holes with a sudden start, as if their bodies were elastic bands.
每一片田野與花園的土壤中都生活著許多蚯蚓。如果你想看看多到什么程度, 就應該挑選一個溫暖、潮濕的夜晚, 打著燈籠走到花園或者茂盛的草叢中。然后你大概就能看到數百條蚯蚓, 尾巴都在洞中, 頭部與身體卻在到處移動, 尋找水與食物。你必須要輕輕落下腳步, 因為它們一旦發現你靠近的話就會立刻縮回到洞中, 像彈簧一般迅速。
Worms are eaten by birds when they come to the top of the ground, and they are chased and eaten by moles when they burrow under it. It was said of a good man that he "would not hurt a worm. " I hope that no child who reads this book will ever wantonly injure these harmless and very useful little creatures.
當蚯蚓爬到地面上的時候, 鳥兒就會捕食它們；當它們蜷縮在土壤中的時候, 鼴鼠又會對它們展開搜捕。善良的人“連蟲子都不忍心傷害”。我希望讀到這本書的孩子們, 都不會故意去傷害這種沒有害處卻又十分有用的小生靈。
