IN BATTALIONS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10923, 24 September 1932, Page 4

IN BATTALIONS

WORMS UP FOR AIR!

Sydney, Sept. 15

Thousands upon thousands of worms crawling with painful slowness—and not at right angles across Bunnerong-road, Bunnerong, early this morning, created a most unusual spectacle and nearly caused several accidents due to skidding of motor tyres. Motorists driving over this crawling, slippery mass found their wheels skidding and swerving dangerously. One vehicle spun completely around, after crushing hundreds of worms, and almost capsized. The trek continued for more than an hour, and almost half the wanderers were either stranded in poois of water or killed by flying wheels and tramping feet. Flooded Out.

■ The reason for the sudden trek by the worms was that a Chinese garden, from where they came, was partly under water, which had caused them to crawl to the earth’s surface to gain air. Once on top, they were stranded and forced to move to dry' land, so they started off in battalions and divisions.

Resounding Title,

A Museum expert of worms, Mr Boardman, said that the little fellows were of the common garden species known as Allolobophora Calliginosa. It was the usual thing for a worm to shift quarters when water dispelled the air in the earth about where he burrowed.