In article ,
bigboard writes:
| Franz Heymann wrote:
|
| You can get composting worms from your garden, but earthworms, ie
| Lumbricus
| terrestris, would not be any use at all. Wrong type completely.
|
| Firstly, the worms were sold to me by a firm which specialises in worm
| composting accessories.
|
| In which case they will not be 'earthworms'.

Why not? As is normal in English, the word "earthworm" has both
a specific and generic meaning - in the former, it means an individual
of the genus Lumbricus (NOT necessarily terrestris) and, in the latter,
it means any worm that lives in the earth.

| Secondly, that url to which Kay used to draw our attention was written
| by someone whose professional research is concerned with a study of
| worms.
| Do I believe him ot you?
|
| As I studied the ecology of Earthworms extensively at university, I would
| suggest a third possibility: you have incorrectly remembered what you read
| on this site. If you would care to provide a direct link to your evidence,
| I will, of course, apologise. Similarly, if it turns out that you are
| mistaken, perhaps you could do the decent thing?

I can suggest a fourth one - you are using the word "earthworm" in
a ridiculously specific sense. If you want to refer to the species
Lumbricus terrestris, then please use that name - otherwise be aware
that the term also includes other worms, some of which ARE common
inhabitants of the earth in the UK and widely recommended for
wormeries.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.