A Curious Procession.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 November 1914, Page 3

A Curious Procession.

4 In the deep pine forests of Norway the wood-cutters sometimes find a serpentine object, fifty feet long, crawling slowly over the ground. Ii they did not know that it was made up of millions of little worms, they might be frightened by its peculiai appearance. These worms, called the sciara : gather during July and August ie large numbers, preparatory to migrating in search of food or for change of condition. When setting out on this journey, they stick themselves together and form a huge serpentine mass, often reaching a length of between forty and fifty feet and several inches in thickness. As the sciara is only on an average about three „ thirty-seconds of an inch in length, and barely wider than a fine needle, the number required to compose a line of the size above mentioned is enormous. Their pace is very slow, and upon meeting an obstacle, such as & stick or stone, they will eithei writhe over or around it, sometimes breaking into bodies for this purpose. A. celebrated naturalist says that, if the rear portion of this wonderful snake-like ■'procession be brought into contact with the front part and a sort of circle formed, the insects will keep moving round and round in that circle for hours and hours without apparently noticing that they are not getting on in their journey. If the^ procession be broken in two, the portions will reunite in a short time. The Norwegian peasants, when they meet one of these trains, will: lay some article of their clothing, such as a belt or handkerchief, on the ground in front of it. If the procession passes over it, it is regarded as a good sign; but if it goes round the obstacle, the reverse is believed.