Nick Maclaren wrote:


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.

In the sense of those that live in tunnels in the earth? If by ridiculously
specific you mean 'correct' then I agree with you.

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.

'Earthworm', in every other person I have ever spoken with, refers to those
that live in the soil and leave casts on the lawn. Earth meaning 'earth',
and worm meaning 'worm'. Hope this is clearer for you now.

--
"The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a bit
longer."
-- Henry Kissinger