Page:The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms (1881).djvu/273

( 259 )

THE DENUDATION OF THE LAND—continued.

are now prepared to consider the more direct part which worms take in the denudation of the land. When reflecting on subaerial denudation, it formerly appeared to me, as it has to others, that a nearly level or very gently inclined surface, covered with turf, could suffer no loss during even a long lapse of time. It may, however, be urged that at long intervals, debacles of rain or