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Quotation from The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White
“Earth-worms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm”
The Natural History of Selborne, To Barrington, Letter XXXV (1789 text)
White argues for the value of humble creatures, describing worms as great promoters of vegetation a century before Darwin's book on the subject.
Citation: "Earth-worms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm" — Gilbert White, The Natural History of Selborne, To Barrington, Letter XXXV (1789 text). (id the-natural-history-of-selborne-q4)
Portrait: White's Selborne 1813 title page (detail), Gilbert White, Public domain.
