[CUL-DAR64.2.29_001]

Terrace

Ounces

20 [+] 20 [+] 20 [+] 12 [=] 72 ounces

3 lb.8 oz.

[CUL-DAR64.2.29_002]

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR64.2.29_003]

On common

Ounces 20 [+] 20 [+] 20 [+] 20 [+] 20 [+] 14 [=] 114 ounces

7 lb : 7 1/4 oz

[CUL-DAR64.2.29a]

Sqr yd on terrace cleared Oct. 9th /70

Last collected Oct. 14th/71

[CUL-DAR64.2.30a-30c_001]

Sqr yd Common cleared Oct 24/70

Last collected Oct 27/71

[CUL-DAR64.2.30a-30c_002]

From Sq yd or Common

[CUL-DAR63.7_001]

Nov 26

1871 or 1870 I think

I watered with very fine rose pulpy castings just thrown up, & it was surprising how long they resisted the drops. I suppose owing to their adhesiveness, drops of rain however, wd fall with greater force. When at last & very slowly they did disappear amongst the finely mown turf, they seemed to sink perpendicularly downwards. As this seemed improbable I mixed fine chalk powder with saliva to same consistence as fresh casting, & then mixed this with

[CUL-DAR63.7_002]

a casting, disturbing its position as little as possible. I then watered 2 thus treated as before & they disappeared as before. In one case I cd detect no chalk particles between the grass, but in the other case I found many on the slope 3 inches below the casting. The slope however was considerable viz 16° 20'

(Nov 29th Casting prepared with chalk from Rain to act on — grass cleared)

Fruitful

[CUL-DAR63.8-9_001]

Nov 28 [1870]

1)

Rather fresh castings, I see they are generally perched on grass & do not touch the ground until accumulated in large quantities, impalbably fine. Hence cd hardly fail to be liquefied by rain. Today I again tried mixing chalk & gum water with castings, taking care that they were not thus rendered more liquid, leaving them still perched a little above the earth. I then cleared with scissors every blade of grass &c, but

[CUL-DAR63.8-9_002]

not touching the earth itself & watered as before. I distinctly saw chalk 4 or 5 in. below the casting & the water running between the grass a foot below was slightly pale muddy. The slopes on the lawn were 6°, 2°30, & 3°

[insertion:] Nov. 29th when dry I could trace the fine chalk 5 & 6 inches, mould below & of the castings

No doubt the rose caused a shower with drops closer than almost any rain, but drops not so large as in thunder-storm, & not striking the surface with nearly same force as rain.

Slope of Road — inches of Railway

Sand

[CUL-DAR64.2.11-12_001]

Was 1870 leap year

Leith Hill

[CUL-DAR64.2.11-12_002]

Dec 9

Upper inch of Turf pard off. Block seems very compact.

Means of 2 top measurements on long sides 8.8 long

[annotated sketch and calculations]

(These measurements are all little under the mark or not over.)

(Dec 9th — I do not think the Block has shrunk more than one or two tenth of an inch.

Does this refer to Leith Hill???

[CUL-DAR63.3]

Jan 4/71/

Very Heavy Rain & storm last night — some pools of water quite clear on Lawn- On steep slope with castings [could] hardly fail to be muddy. Castings several subside, but not so much as I expected. The chalk last put on castings almost or quite washed away. — Some signs of washing away on old chalk castings — (Clear case of old disintegrated blown leewards, & on one steepish slope, all blown away from between ruins)

Crumble blown

Dr King

["Dr. King, the superintendent of the Botanic Garden in Calcutta",Earthworms, pp. 5ff.]

[CUL-DAR63.4]

Jan. 31/71/

[For the following notes, see the discussion in Earthworms, pp. 137ff.]

9 10 11 1

Visited pasture field beyond stony field, but could not succeed in ascertaining with accuracy point whence worm ejected, often more than one hole but I could see plainly (looking only to old subsided castings) but have on side of stony field, tho a much large portion of casting almost invariably lies on lower side of orifice. Nevertheless we succeeded in measuring 3 on old pasture (New in Grozer Table)

(1) total length down slope 2.25 inches angle of slope 7°

(2) Length 2.35 ∠ = 8° 30'

(3) Length 2.10 ∠ 6° 30'

One disc, much subsided, apparently originally from 2 worms all found together was 4 1/2 inches in length down slope.

The weight of above all 3 very damp castings above Hole 447 grams

The weight of do beneath Hole grain 916 gram (without bags)

(Bag. 53 gram)

[CUL-DAR64.1.2]

Nov 14/71/

The white sand in Gower St thrown up on bare garden ground — in wood of Sandwalk about 2 years ago — Settled lime & casting at top, 23 inches from ground castings result of the red sand mingled with dark earth. — I traced some of those drawn & found the open paper coated with black earth — whether sand yielded & hole thus been too large & was coated with the worms' voidings. — or whether sand was too rough, I cannot say — It wd appear that same passage long used

Finest earth best fitted to be washed [illeg]

[CUL-DAR64.2.5_001]

[Nov 15/71/]

Puckland harrowed & laid in grass 1 year before our arrival — a layer of flints small & large. Now Nov 15. 1871 I have dug long narrow furrow with perpendicular sides & measured in several places thickness of earth with many stones above layer full of stones; the 2 easily separating, & the thickness is 2 7/8 inches to surface, living grass long been pulled up. 3/8 quite enough as very poor pasture, for layer composed of roots — to allow 2.5 from earth. Very few castings in this field — It slopes steeply on one side — this was strewn thickly covered with great flints, while [illeg] under one's feet. I remember chunks more wd be covered — now How cd gallops [illeg]

[Great Pucklands, a field to the west of Down House. The Darwins moved to Down in 1842.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.5_002]

without least reason — remained much longer uneven. Now nearly equally covered perhaps about 2 1/2 inches. — so worms have been worked rather quicker, & I can plainly see by castings, owing perhaps to better drainage, are more numerous.

[CUL-DAR64.1.3]

Nov 21/71/

There were not so much reiterated casting up of the same earth as I thought, for though worms must surface perhaps through the earth beneath to surface a while, but lately passed through their intestines, they were the same passage or high round from below for some time & thus make larger heaps of castings on same spots brought up from some considerable depth

[CUL-DAR64.2.16]

Nov 23 71.

Largest casting in field beyond Stony Bank — Chalky & very poor soil. — I think largest castings are in poor soil. — Dryed in warmer places & owing lean pastures

3,03 — 379 gr

Casting from Mr Smith larger field — This may be considered as a larger ordinary casting

Dryed as above.

1,0.3: 97 grs

[CUL-DAR63.5]

Nov 23d 71

After some frost & dry weather then slight thaw & fog & damp air worm—castings disintegrated, & pellets had rolled down on flat stone embedded on lower side, but not on upper side of casting — on Stubble field — Slope gather.

[CUL-DAR64.2.17-18_001]

Dec 2 1871

Dissolved by undulatory chalk

I put chalk on field near K. garden Nov 1842 [insertion:] 1871 [-] 1842 [=] 29 & today [insertion:] But [Horace] -dug a trench on the space as far as I cd remember where; & I found several nodules of chalk, looking curiously like pebbles with all their angles dissolved away, at the depth of 7 inches from the surface i.e. 6 1/2 subtracting the turf. I believe this was the chalk that I put on the field, because in another part which was mossy, I distinctly remember having a year or 2 afterwards, having put a layer of cinders, & at some subsequent

["K. garden" is the kitchen garden in the grounds of Down House.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.17-18_002]

time, another layer; I have dug a trench here & found many cinders at the depth of 7 & 5 1/2 in. from surface where the chalk was the thickness of vegetable mould was 9 1/4 in. & beneath this many flints; I feel sure this was all earth thrown up by the worms because close above one of the large flints there was a small pebble of flint. The field had been evidently laid down in grass several yes before 1842, but it was poor pasture. If we assume that it had been laid down about 30 yrs then the thickness of the earth below the chalk wd agree with what I found in Pokelands

[CUL-DAR63.10]

Dec 23d 71

There was rather heavy rain 2 or 3 days ago, but I cannot see any chalk washed down — The old Earth cast somewhat reduced & looks coarser — some appear as if washed down, 1/2 or 1 inch below casting making a sort of [illeg]

[CUL-DAR63.11]

Dec 25/71/

On poor grass field — lately laid down (beyond Stony field) or slope of about 6° measured: examined many several disintegrated castings — Slimy discs only little higher in middle — so that all 3 actions (wind) enabled (& perhaps transport matter washed them further down slope) & in all there at least to 2/3 of Earth below the hole, which was discovered by slimy soft [little] turfs & finding hole beneath or by pushing casting away.

["Stony field" was the Darwin family nickname for Great Pucklands.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.4]

Dec 26 /71/

At Maer cinder many scattered, but I had 1 1/2 inches of fine fully sifted cinders put on field — now a fine casting at top. & by tracing down, I find a hollow cinder of mud — it is deem word had reaching pushed tube in order & casts one earth & the particle to earth & made first castings & others reached surface without a thick tube.

Cinders loose— As far as I could judge had not swallowed any cinders.

[CUL-DAR63.28_001]

Dec 26 /71

[in margin:] The importance of the flowing of sludge after rain is greatly enhanced, by numberless castings brought up after long-continued rain after dry weather.

During last 18° [hours] continuous fine rain, so much has fallen, but never very heavy, & have all the recent castings are in state of poorly & have last transform shape & have subsided. I cut off the larger of turf & measured as before. & it is certain that in almost every case the pulpy moss had flowed a little downwards, so that turf 2/3 was below hole — On Lawn line trail — slope in one part close to down below had been very great [illeg] (see other paper)

It is now certain that casting last long only when first dryed — It is clear that the downward flow of the

[CUL-DAR63.28_002]

which casting — when rendered pulpy, is chief agency.

The orifices come to surface at various angle, ((( but I think generally at right ∠s. & if so, this wd avoid the lowering of the number.

Dec. 29th not only does whole casting collapse & sunken down, but upper part is washed over & flow over lower part. During rain, I put fine chalk on summit alone, & guarded the wet [illeg] but a particle blown, but now often broken & but heavy rain, there are some stubbles of chalk down slope of casting, showing that there has been down-flow.

[CUL-DAR63.25]

[26 December 1871]

1

Worm castings

Weight of Earth below the hole 185 [gr]

Weight of Earth above the hole 102 [gr]

∴ Weight below [÷] weight above = 9/5 nearly

This was not an old one

Dec 26/71 Lawn on mound

Casting above 1. 7/8 long

Turf thrown away

∠ of slope 5 1/2°

December 26th

[CUL-DAR63.26]

Dec 26 & 27.

2

Measured on Lawn

Beneath hole grams

Lower 129

Upper 054

Slope 10 1/2°

[CUL-DAR63.27]

3

Length inch 2 1/2 (of casting)

Slope 4 1/2°

below hole 182 [gr]

Above hole 088 [gr]

hole pointing up the hill

Part was almost new & part rather old

On mound on Lawn

Dec. 27th

[CUL-DAR63.72]

Dec 27 /71/

The Holes came up at all ∠s to surface often very obliquely or very much inclined — That it cd be shows that it comes up at the ∠ to slope ie shortest route to surface that work wd be very effective.

The castings during rain seem brought up extra wet as if worm had absorbed water to aid in excretion —

Some of the very pulpy castings (during rain) seemed to have been blown by strong wind to leeward, & slope of course wd aid this-

Say Wonderful the number of castings incessantly brought to surface —

Dec 29

(It is impossible to strike average about ∠°, one wd think they wd generally, one wd think from at rt. ∠ to slope, but no evidence if this)

[CUL-DAR64.2.19_001]

Dec 27 71.

Had the chalk trench enlarged & found several pebbles of chalk larger & smaller — One embedded (with flint true pebble above it) at barely 9 inches from surface of turf. — But in this new trench there is some appearance of broken line 6 inches from surface; can there be when [illeg] roots of grass end.

Of the above chalk pebbles are [similar] 1842. Then, the field cd only lately have been laid down, for abundant angular stones, mixed with much earth lie close beneath — N. B. In ground [poached] by animals the fragment of chalk wd fall into hollow & when

[CUL-DAR64.2.19_002]

in a 3d part of same field, there was only 6 inches of some mould from surface above 5 inches of earth moderately mixed with stones, & looking like a plumped surface, & at the depth of 11 inches from surface was the undulated red clay with large flints.

Jan 3d [1872]

Had a trench dug not far from lawn, & found that a pit in large tree had once stood there, for hole had been filled up very coarse red clay & flint with some chalk & pebbles; This must have been at least 40 years ago — yet mould from surface only 4 1/8 to 4 3/8 in thickness — I suppose worms did not like the coarse still red clay; though now many castings on the spot. I foresee at least left for grass to grow slowly or or perhaps coated with the turf —

having walk passed over to field wd be driven in — The big fragment wd be pushed deepest in, & the present pebble was rather large.

Dissolution of chalk — fragment on lower surface wd came later to [path] ?

[CUL-DAR63.29]

Dec 29 [1871]

∠ 6°

lower 83 [gr]

Upper 98 [gr]

Mound on Lawn — Castings still vermiform & not yet washed down so of very little or no value.

I do not think this angle to come in average.

[CUL-DAR63.30]

Dec 29 71

4)

Mound on lawn

Disk of worm casting much washed — partly down hill & partly with wind

Upper 33

Lower 143

about greatest length 1 7/8 inches

∠ 8° 45'

Worm had probably cast below hole, but casting had certainly also subsided

[CUL-DAR64.2.20]

Dec 29 71

Had a Trench dug in field near House in middle which has probably been laid down as pasture a century — Here fine earth without stones varied much in thickness with atoms of bricks or tiles red & pebbles at bottom in same trench, measured from surface in parts only 6 1/2 in or part 8 1/2; so not thicker than in other field — 7 miles wd be faintest average — If worms threw up in one spot then in another near by, Many lurking process wd begin.

Though I found a worm hole & live worms at depth of 26 inches, yet very few castings in the immediate vicinity. — Many fields evidently poor. Many near to cherry trees & in certain other spot — Even on lawn. Smooth holes of castings, but very few under yews or under Limes.

[CUL-DAR63.1_001]

Dec 31/71/

Boys at Holwood Park castings more crumbling & rolled downwards — There was also much crawling on steep slopes of stony field — depends on nature of castings. (5)

[Holwood Park is mentioned in Earthworms, p. 263.]

Jan 1. Birds & every other animal which [touches] the pallets, with [wind] to throw farther down hill than up hill

over

 

[CUL-DAR63.1_002]

Jan 1 1871 [1872]

There has been strong wind blowing, & the still soft castings seem most of them (not so much in those observed directly after rain) slightly blown over to leewards —

Though not subsided.

West S. W. winds wd blow over fully castings; dry N. Wind the vermiform fragment

[CUL-DAR63.73]

Jan 1 72

In the same field as before we measured the depth by stretching a string from edge to edge transversely to the furrow placing a walking stick in the furrow & pressing it down so as to get the average level of the furrow & measur [ing] the depth from the string to the furrow.

We began by measuring a furrow transverse to the hill in the steepest part & following it up the slope towards the point of the 'Spoon' until the slope nearly died away; in the upper part (near the point of the Spoon) the furrows might be said to be more up the hill wh. was a gentle slope than transverse.

The measures were taken about every 10 paces & were (beginning at the steep & transverse part)

5 3/4 6 1/2 7 1/4 7 6 5 1/4 4 1/4 5 1/4 5 1/2 5 3/4 inches

In the next furrow but one nearer to the centre line of the Spoon, where the hill to which the furrow in its lower part ran transverse was not so steep, the numbers taken in the same order were

5 1/4 4 3/4 6 1/2 5 1/4 5 4 3/4 6 6 1/2 inches

In a furrow which ran almost up a very gentle slope nearly flat at top the numbers were (beginning at the lowest point

6 4 3/4 5 1/2 5 6 1/2 6 5 1/2 5 1/2

[CUL-DAR63.74]

And on a part of the field which was quite level the depths of 8 parallel furrow measured in the same place — (Thus in the figure A B C D &c were the places of measurement) were

6 6 8 14 6 12 6 5 14 5 6 14 inches

[CUL-DAR63.75]

Observations on the results

If the worm theory is true one wd expect to find the furrows more filled up where they are transverse to the hill than when they run down it. The 1st & 2nd furrows might [roughly] be considered as one half being transverse & the other half down the hill

Now average depth of 1st or lower 5 measures in 1st furrow is 6.50 inches of the 2nd or upper 5 measures in 1st furrow is 5.2 inches

Thus in per furrow the furrow was actually deeper by more than an inch where it run most transversely

The same operation for 2nd furrow gives 5.44 inches for depth of transverse part & 5.56 longitude.

Here it is as was expected & the upper part is deeper by .12 inches

Again the average depth of the whole 1st furrow is 5.85 inches & that of whole 2nd furrow is 5.50 inches

Thus the 1st furrow altho' situated

[CUL-DAR63.76]

more on the slope of the hill was actually deeper by .35 inches

The average depth of the 3rd furrow was 5.72 inches that is almost of the same average depths as the 1st and 2nd furrows wh. were 5.85 & 5.5 respectively

The average depth of furrow in the flat part is 6.15 inches — that is deeper than any other furrows except the lower part of the 1st furrow — I am thus inclined to think that the lower part of the 1st furrow is abnormal — since it ought not to be deeper much on the level under any circumstances

The mean error in 1st set of measures is .67

2nd .62

3rd .46

4th 62

That is the measure deviate on either side of the average by over 1/2 an inch & thus goes to show that no great reliance can be placed on the figures as the measurement give such uncertain results.

[CUL-DAR63.70]

[1 January 1872]

Perhaps the furrows in upper part of slope were originally shallower

Why should not the furrows have become obliterated by weather before the turf grow

There were plenty of worm castings 1/2 way up the slope, I forgot to see if there were many at top of slope

[CUL-DAR63.71]

3/4 of mile from Stonehenge

Grass slope about one mile south of Stonehenge

Grass the same as over rest at downs, Shepherd said it was quite out of memory when it was ploughed Landlord said a century at least

Furrows 13 strides apart, almost 8 of them

all the furrows faded away at almost the same place

Very faint furrows much obliterated with cart tracts came down into valley from opposite side, bit did not quite correspond in position

[annotation by Darwin:] not done with clinometer by eye alone

[sketch: transverse section]

[annotation by Darwin:] Furrows & Crown ran down the Hill; Central is steeper in the part steeper; About here the [illeg] extremely level furrow ran where furrows & ridge Ended. This is not the note referred to in the note of Monday Jan 1 1872; Is there any stream?

Nearly 1 inch maybe deducted from reach reading from height of head of skewer (1/4) & natural inequalities

underneath mould it was mixed flints & chalk so that as I got higher it became more difficult to drive in skewer, at last it became impossible and I had to drive it in quite sideways

Section of slope through furrow

— Scale 1/4 inch to stride — upper figures numbers of strides

lower figures depth of furrow

General slope 8° to 10° taken with eye by means of semicircle when lying on chest.

[CUL-DAR63.2]

Jan 2d [1872]

After very rainy night not very Heavy — I can now see traces of washing down of chalk from the old castings with chalk —

Old castings with grains some of pellets blown to leeward —

On quite level surface — no movement except through wind. I think wind does much, both on pushing castings & on pellets.

Wind Crumble

[CUL-DAR64.2.21-22_001]

Jan 5 1872

Beaulieu Abbey

[Darwin's son William examined the base of stones at the ruins of the abbey in Beaulieu, Hampshire. Darwin visited the site on 22 June 1877.]

1872 [-] 19 [=] 1853

The whole of the Abbey has disappeared except a portion of the South aisle wall. The position of nave transcept [that] has been ascertained by excavation of foundation and is now marked by stones let into the turf where the abbey stood is now entirely grass tile those of well kept field, the old man, who showed me over, who is now porter at the Palace lodge (& I think shared the steward call him the old bailiff) was 74, & had lived in the neighbourhood all his life, said the surface had not been touched within memory.

19 years ago the D. of Buccleuch opened the turf in 3 places at the West end of the nave and exposed the old tesselated pavement, this was protected by a trap door and by being bricked round.

Hole no 1 The tiles or tesselated movement were 6 3/4 inches between the level of turf

Hole no 2 [do] 10 inches — do-

Hole no 3 11 1/2 inches — do-

The general surface of turf was level, and the 3 holes were within a few yards of each other — No 2 being only 3 1/2 yards from No 1 and No 3 8 yards from No 2 in No 1 & 2 & I think No 3, worm castings were coming thru the intersection between the tiles, No 1 which measured 2 ft 3 3/4 x 2 ft 3 5/8 [insertion by Darwin:] How by square feet contained 8 oz avoirdupois (less 3 drachm apoth) of mould from castings which was sand to have accumulated in about 6 months. These castings contained minute particles of slate tile, mortar, the showing that the same rubbish that is found in

[CUL-DAR64.2.21-22_002]

2

other places without tiles above it exists underneath these tiles and is penetrated by the worms (this should be confirmed by crumbling a casting under a magnifying glass)

About 15 to 20 from this spot & 5 yards from W End of Nave. I had a hole dug; the depth was 8 3/4 inch down to a solid concrete pavement, the first 2 3/4 being pure worm mould the remaining 6 inches being full of rubbish tiles, stones, slates, bits of concrete or hard mortar, an oyster shell, but all mixed with worm mould; worm castings about — the surface had not been touched within memory.

Hole 1/2 way down the nave — 2 inches of pure worm mould 11 inches of mixed rubbish as before — Evidently made earth or rubbish filled up by worm mould, did not come to any bottom of concrete the

Hole 10 yards from E. end / ie altar) — 2 1/2 inch mould rubbish, stones, tiles, mortar, flints.

Hole outside N. transcript — same rubbish mixed with mould

Hole 20 yards further N from N. transcript (is quite away from abbey) 11 inches of rich mould, then came up a few broken pieces of tile.

Hole old Brewery — surface never touched as far as the man knew — 1 1/2 inch of mould, then tiles rubbish &c very closely packed.

Hole — Mould in old cloister 11 — but I do not know how deep it went

[CUL-DAR63.77-78]

Jan 1872

4

furrows on same slope in field at Beaulieu bare grass between 50 & 60 yards -Bailiff told me (or former Bailiff) — the angle of slope in first furrow is taken from the 2nd in which case each measurement was made

W. E. Darwin

Jan 1872

[Charts and calculations]

Perhaps all that I can find in the old furrow folds do not [4 words illeg]

It appears that furrows are somewhat filled up at bottom of slope & actually deeper in steepest parts. But the [Harming] of field, when laid down great cause of doubt.

[CUL-DAR63.13]

Jan 7/72/

There has been for some days much heavy rains & in my field & on field to village shallowy ponds on surface of grass-land. This water is slightly muddy — This may be in part due to castings — notice this of the flowing of old & recent water chalk castings, [Though:] new to case of above muddy water it = of course impossible to say that very heavy rain having not washed away some fine Earth from grass matted land.

[CUL-DAR63.32]

Jan 7. 72

[William] suppose the worm casting to be a bar

Then 1/2 of the amount below hole has descended thro' HO = 2/6 AB + 1/6 AB

ie 1/3 of the whole casting = 1/2 AB

Therefore 100 grains of castings on a surface, sloping 9°-26' descends thro' 1.015 inches & 100 grains is 1/3 of all that is brought up.

Thus if 1/10 in. is brought up a year

[insertion:] I may safely say .15 inch

the flow is 1/3 x 1/10 x 1 cubic inches

past every linear inch per annum or of Earth per year

1 1/5 cubic inches per annum

The travelling occurs only during heavy rain [2 words illeg] had driven pellets traces down

[Figure] (drawn perpendicular to the line of greatest slope of dry hill)

[Figure] sq. yard covered with 1/10 of inch of castings

1 1/5 cubic inches of the casting traces down slope 1 inch

16) 10/ 112

 

[CUL-DAR63.33]

Jan 7. 72

[Measurements and calculations]

[CUL-DAR64.2.24_001]

Jan 7/72/

A large casting on sloping parts of Stony Field in damp state weighed 1740 grain

(I unit oz = 437.5 gr)

[calculations not transcribed]

[CUL-DAR64.2.24_002]

[calculations not transcribed]

[CUL-DAR63.111_001]

Jan 14/72

When I speak of carbonic acid in soil refer to the quasi-pebbles embedded for 29 years; for according to my experience angular fragments wd not have been nearly so much dissolved, if exposed to air for the period.

Mem: no frost in Tropics yet plenty of vegetable mould.

Besides worms, moles, & Geotropes, the dung-beetles which bring up so much fine Earth from beneath much acid in leeway slopes.

The extreme thickness of mould on the Down near Stonehenge is obstacle to belief if much being washed down; as it can originate very slowly by dissolution of Chalk. — Perhaps wd have been thicker, if not carried down by worms, at a little quick note owing the fineness of turfs average less than 3 1/2 inch

[CUL-DAR63.111_002]

Judging from Lawn it is only larger castings which leave larger residue, covered with grass.

[CUL-DAR63.14_001]

Jan 15. [1872] In Mr. Smith Field across lawn, which is not rolled William observed that whole field covered with [illeg] — ie small conical projections, with grass growing on them. There were manifestly castings covered with grass. — Here we see Earth of castings on level surface — others wd be cast up on the sides & old ones slightly aside & this field kept on same general level. (But I saw in case that wind had apparently blown them over [cite] —

Jan 16 Holwood on steep grassy slopes, the [precipice] rather less plain then on the level parts,

apparently for flowing & crumbling of castings — The numbers wonderful — I found on space of 16 inches traces to the slope & also 6 inches broad covered ∠ single sheet of Earth due to confluences of castings — on several parts or slopes from 8° — to 11°30', then were elongated

[CUL-DAR63.14_002]

discs or subsided castings of 6, 7, & 2 1/2 inches in length down the slope, apparently formed by the confluence of adjoining castings — there is certainly considerable transport of some Earth on slope like this

On part of park where gravel comes close to surface & hardly any trail, no worm castings.

[CUL-DAR63.15]

Jan 18/72/

Measured sloping ditch at end of sand-walk & confirmed fact that surface thickness strewn with pellets rolled down & formed ∠ 27°

[CUL-DAR63.16_001]

Jan 18/72

After late storms & much rain examined many scores of castings of field, level, on ordinary grazed pasture (very few castings comparatively with Holwood) at it is certain that all show evidence of having been carried by wind a little to leeward; for all slope gently (like by ice-worn hillocks to N.) to windward & steep to leewards — Very many not only steep to leeward, but then summit curl over, really [miniature] course below. It is certain that on land grass-covered surface the Earth for long packed on the grass must be driven to the leeward, in relation to prevailing wind, what is accompanied by rain

[CUL-DAR63.16_002]

& then with as is to S. W. wind. — I do not yet know how far the dry crumbly pellets can be driven by dry N. E. wind — I shd think wd sure be entangled in roots of grass.

I had thought, that clearing them, that no action through worm on level surface —

Wind

[CUL-DAR63.17]

Jan 19th 72

I have been observing the old castings marked with [pins] shortly after [retraction] from Leith Hill 2 or 3 months ago about 10 weeks ago, & I find some washed among almost almost completely away, as shown by yellow mud down slope between grassysome apparently blown quite away, & some still remaining with grass growing through them, & therein wd be permanently preserved!

Often crumbly

[CUL-DAR64.1.6]

Jan 19/72/

In bottom of valley beyond Stony Field (where many measurements first made) in extraordinary numbers of large castings; in other parts of same field few — Why? On path, little used on bank of Stony F. many more then other parts. Why? Why more L. v. Down & in Holwood — Why few in my field?

[CUL-DAR63.18]

Jan 21 72

Visited Grass-Field with Game-Keeper's cottager — I cd see no signs on steep slope of castings blown upwards by late storms — plenty of old subsided ones. — This blowing up the slope wd occur only during very lateral storms — The wind is chiefly important for level surfaces

[CUL-DAR63.19-19a_001]

Jan 24/72

After last night extraordinary S.W storm & torrents of rain, most of Earth casting on lawn & on several fields, all were flat patches of level dirt, as if so much [illeg] had been spilt & had spread out. Several of them, showed open by open passages between blades of grass to leewards, washed how they had been blown in this direction — It is clear that such cakes of fluid dirt wd have been much influenced by gravity. — But on slope on mound on lawn, some had been blown up slope. (Pellets rolled by N. E. dry winds wd partly counterbalance this action.)

[CUL-DAR63.19-19a_002]

(Some time ago I observed a very yellow casting on mud, when ∠ of 5°, & now (Jan. 28) after heavy rains, I found it has clearly flowed down slope, clear from colour.

[CUL-DAR63.31]

Jan 24 1872

(2)

On Lawn, some of old casting with chalk, had whitish patch, from washed down chalk. 1 inch below the casting — How The angle of slope is 7° Effervesced there also. At 2 1/2 inches from chalk I am almost sure there was after [illeg]

[CUL-DAR63.20]

Jan 25/72/

Visited steepish slope on Stony Field & Gamekeeper's field after late storms. Many of the castings have flowed like semi-fluid mortar (better simile than honey) over the rather coarse grass, & are about 5 inches in length in line of slope. — no dull finer matter washed sown lower.

The aspect of these masses showed that they had flowed in parts of slope where wind had acted sideways the matter had flowed obliquely down the slope — Again I saw on moderate slope on Stony Field some cover of castings about had been blown a little up hill.

[CUL-DAR63.12]

Jan 29/72 [in margin]

At bottom of above valley, where very slight slope coincides with late S. W. storms of W. & Rain, storms of Wind & rain, all the castings slope exactly as drenched yesterday in my field. On slope of turn Stony F. several similarly sloped up the slope! Of course wd have sloped more down the slope. Winds in storms certainly more effective then gravity on gentle slope.

I now feel sure that there must be in England a slow but steady flow of lime Earth for all S. W. to N. E. but [illeg] & carried off by every intervening valley or gully.

Case on Lawn of up slope on Jan 2d 1872

[CUL-DAR64.1.7]

Jan 29/72/

The great majority of castings on Lawn are dark but occasionally angular a yellow casting cast up & just wetter few last days many yellow have been cast up, so I had hole dug & found the yellow clay only 5 inches from surface

Have worms work chiefly under the surface, & then again with the hole in field, which had been filled up with red clay yet turf have been covered with dark castings — (It is [illeg] the worm carry from depth many deposit some castings in old disused holes.

[CUL-DAR64.1.8_001]

Feb 3d/72/

What can worms live on as they frequent earth under paving stones or Tiles — where very little vegetation (or near as in Roman's case can live between joints, I think I must have erred in regard to Lawn a day or 2 ago is saying that worm live almost eating within 5 inches of surface, for I find in my own field in Red clay worm at some feet depth after long period. Does the casting get mixed with black earth, & so not commonly appear red?

What can worms feed on in my red clay? Organic matter in solution?

If they do not often go deep, more cd not be covered up- the level any [illeg] on the borders of floor rises.

[CUL-DAR64.1.8_002]

How do they bring their tail to the surface to [2 words illeg] Do they push it above them?

[CUL-DAR64.1.9]

Feb 3/72/

In garden-earth often dug, many worms & few castings & now I have positively ascertained that they throw their castings in the old burrow, which are but wasted.

With celery earthed up there are spaces between them, & there I find casts filled up with the castings — Does that not indicate that they come to nearest point to cast up? Or do they go there for decayed leaves?

[CUL-DAR63.79-80_001-004]

8 February 1872

Given to me at Down Feb. 8th 1872

Lucy Wedgwood

[See the letter in Correspondence vol. 20, pp. 67-68.]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_001]

Feb 9 1872

i = inches

(1)

St Catherine's hill, Winchester, one mile South of Town an irregular conical hill with steep sides & dome shaped top about 2/3 from base it is surrounded by a deep ditch cut in the undisturbed chalk that continues up the ditch having been thrown upwards in some parts so as to form a steep bank above the ditch. The general form & size of the ditch is an ellipse with longer axis nearly 1/4 mile, the shorter about 3/16 mile. — Antiquaries say it is the work of Britain, Danes, or Romans, most probably the latter.

Dug a hole about 25 yrds from W. base of slope (∠ 15°) could not find a place on that side of less angle as the base of hill is cut-away to form a canal.

Found 5 inches pure mould, then 8 inches of mixed chalk & mould (chalk smallish rounded pieces) then came to chalk bottom — plenty of worm castings.

Dug a hole 25 yards higher up (∠ 23°)

Mould 2 3/4 to 3 inches then mixed mould & Chalk (Containing some larger pieces of chalk) 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 i

Then came to chalk bottom.

About 200 ft above this we came to the ditch. The ∠ of slope just below ditch is 27 3/4° to 28°. ∠ of artificial Bank of ditch 34° general slope above ditch & bank 17° — 18° gradually getting flatter on to the top.

(See back)

[CUL-DAR63.94]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_002]

got Parsons RE to analyze chalk from Chalk pit on N. E. of St Catherines — taken from near base up hill about [illeg] feet from surface measure [symbol] perpendicularly —

Sifted the fine chalk which came from the crevices to a powder 2.245 ounces left a residue of 0.225 of dirt about 1/10 th

Solid lump of chalk weighing 2.388 left residue of 0.185 of dirt i.e between 1 1/12 & 1 1/13

[Darwin describes the chalk samples William sent to Parsons in Earthworms, pp. 299-300.]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_003]

(2)

Ditch on N. W. slope of St Catherines

D = ditch

A = outer Bank of ditch

B = inner or upper Bank (artificial)

[sketch]

The outer bank of A at point taken is almost 1 ft to 18 inches high, being quite sufficient to prevent any earth passing out of itch D down the slope. — distance from top of Bank A to bottom of D 9 ft distance from bottom of D to top of slope B 54 ft.

From the largeness of the work, and the nearness of the chalk by the surface, and as it seems pretty certain that the ditch was made by digging out & throwing up, I think when the ditch & bank was made it must have or certainly the Ditch must have been sunk into the chalk

Consisted of pure chalk * see back of sheet — the higher up the slope we dug the larger pieces of chalk we came to and the more flints quite at base of hill I think no flints were found; but on top of bank B we found a considerable number of fair sized flints with chalk between the mould & the pure chalk. — and all above this on taking up the mould we first came to a layer of flints with bits of chalk & mould mixed, then more chalk and so on to pure chalk. —

? does not this look as if some chalk had been thrown down the slope below A and the big pieces of chalk dug out of ditch & flints carried up to [illeg] slope B.

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_004]

March 2

Note at N. E. where the top of upper Bank is only raised a foot or two but sufficient to prevent earth passing over — depth of furrow mould in ditch 4 1/2 i pieces of flints carried up to form the slope B.

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_005]

[sketch of slopes]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_006]

* This is doubtful, on reference to diagram p. 8 it is seen that in case of a bank & ditch made on such a slope as this it is probable that the contents of ditch D were thrown outwards over bank A, and the mould being thrown out first the bank A to D would be pure chalk; but the upper half of B would be made by throwing upwards and the mould would be thrown up first and would be at the top of the slope, so that though the slope B would be all chalk, the mould from the top would gradually be washed back down it into ditch D

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_007]

(3)

at NW

dug hole in ditch D at a level spot outer bank about 1 ft high — found 5 3/4 I quite pure mould 5 i mould with a very few small bits of chalk, then 6 inches mixed mould & chalk making about 17 inches down to what we considered the pure chalk (I had a man digging for me)

N.B on the top of the small outer bank A there was only 1/2 to 1 i of turf on the pure chalk, so that the chalk showed through.

Halfway up slope of bank B (∠ 34°)

5 1/2 mould 8 1/2 mixed M. & C. then came to chalk bottom (must measure this again to be sure (quite right at Feb 14) but mixed mould & chalk varies from 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 I took it fairly at right angles to slope)

earth from line above can pass over the top of bank

 

At top of bank B where there is a band of [illeg] level (∠ 4°) 2 yards wide

4 1/2 to 5 inches M. Then large pieces of chalk and flints with some mould, chalk much larger a good sprinkling of flint & not much mixed mould

There was about 8 inches of this, then pure chalk.

Perhaps this depth of mould is caused by the earth blown up in making Bank.

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_008]

(4)

about 30 yrds above top of bank B (∠ 13°) 2 i mould 8 inches of mould & chalk, chalk getting rapidly more plentiful in comparison to mould — largish flints, saw a worm at a depth of 8 to 9 inches between the lumps of chalk.

level part of top (perhaps ∠ 2°) exposed to S & W 3 i mould then flints then chalk & flints & mould 5 1/2 inches, making 8 1/2 in all; could not dig deeper, suppose it was chalk bottom

Flints increase as we reach the top.

Examined ditch on S side of hill much more evidently artificial

[sketch]

On top of Bank B almost 1 1/2 inch mould then chalk. Distance from top of B to D about 42 ft height up bank A about 2 ft, height of top of B above upper slope 5 or 6 ft at 9 ft from top of B 2 i mould them lumps of Chalk mixed with M (∠ 32° — 33°) in ditch D (sloping W about 3°) at the very junction

[sketch]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_009]

(5)

of the slopes at outer and inner bank dug hole, found pure mould 4 3/4 to 5 i on side of hole nearest B about 3 1/2 i on side A — then mixed chalk & mould. The ditch here is very narrow compared to ditch at E. East hence M deeper

(flints dug)

at base of St Catherines at 3 are some old shallow pits now covered with grass

Across three old pits the grass gently slope up a hill opposite St Cath:

Dug a hole at bottom (∠ 7°)

(a) 7 1/2 i mould 2 to 3 i mixed mould & chalk, did not go deeper, as I had no man to dig.

(b) 70 yards up this slope (∠ 14°) — 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 pure mould then mixed mould & chalk

(c) at 110 or so yard, higher angles getting steeper it becomes nearly level (∠ 1°) — depth of mould 5 i.

(d) 100 further on to quite level — 4 1/2 to 5 i mould then flints & mixed chalk — exposed to S. W.

[sketch]

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_010]

Feb 14 1872

(6)

St Catherine Hill

N. side, the upper bank is lower here and the mould could pass over the top from upper part of hill

Near top upper bank where ∠ is 7° there was 4 i mould then mixed chalk mould & flints, this 4 i of mould may be in consequence of making the ditch

10 yards higher up (y) ∠ 13 3/4 — mould 2 3/4 i. then 10 i (or how many inches) mixed M. C. large pieces of chalk & flint not much mould — then chalk bottom — the man called it rubble

distance from top of bank to bottom of dirt 45 ft ∠ 29°

The ditch itself sloped 6° to 7° to W.

pure mould 4 1/2 i then 17 1/2 inch mould with very small bits of chalk & a few flints in it

4/5 or more mould earth could easily pass over top of bank; in several places coal bits of chalk & flints had rolled down Kicked out of lavish places such as the top of the lower bank aby sheep &c.

All round the ditch was greener than elsewhere

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_011]

Feb 14

(7)

N side a little more to W.

6 yrds above top of upper bank (∠ 18 1/2°) natural soiled could pass over top soil, mould 2 1/2 to 3/4 i (see ∠ [around] just at left

1/2 way down slope of bank (∠ 29° to 31°) — 3 1/2 i mound then 7 inches mixed M & C large piece.

Distance from top of bank to bottom of ditch 59 ft

ditch level wider than the last place Measure width

soil prevented by low bank on outside of one foot from passing out.

5 1/4 pure mould — then 13 1/4 of M. & C. & flint very little small bits of chalk at first, gradually yellowy more and larger, a good deal of in the whole depth — perhaps an inch or two deeper to pure chalk

On top of lower bank only 1/2 to 3/4 inch of turf little bits of chalk breaking, & crumbling, cut off grass, which wound easily, rolled back into ditch

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_012]

Feb 14

(8)

The Bank at different parts is made in different ways according to the slope of the ground, and the chalk & thrown partly down, or all uphill as the case may be.

[sketches]

On the S & W of St .Cath. the ditch is like A — on the N. & E. and S. E. like B.

Examined point at N.E

top of upper bank (marked B in red) was about 5 to 6 ft above general level. dug hole at X by above top of upper bank B red (∠ 3 1/2°) mould 2 2/3 i, the natural surface top of upper bank (B red) with merely thin turf on the chalk

chalk bits coming out of grass easily

distance from B red to D 40 1/2 to 41 ft ∠ of slope 30°

depth of mould half way down 4 1/4 inches

fair quantity of mould

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_013]

Feb 14

9)

ditch D Red level but considerably broader examine width

depth of M. 5 i then mixed mould and chalk very few worm castings in this slope so that little had fallen down

fair quantity of mould on slope & in ditch

loose stuff would easily work down from top & be imbedded at bottom

point at East upper bank made as before about 4 to 5 feet high — distance from top of bank to ditch about 47 foot (∠ of slope 31°) outer or lower ditch about 5 to 6 feet ie in diagram B height of A red above D red

Mould in ditch 3 1/2 i breadth of ditch

Then thick rubble consists of flints chalk & not much M.

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_014]

Feb 14

10)

point at S.E. — upper Bank 4 feet high (ie B red) 8 yrds above upper Bank (ie in diagram below)

∠ 6 1/4° mould only 2 3/4 nat. surface at base of slope of upper bank where it begins to slope up to form bank — found 8 inches of mould see point X red

b to X 13 1/2 ft x to y 4 1/2 ft

[sketch]

The man explained this by saying that when this bank was made, the mould was thrown up first before coming to the chalk, so that before digging the man (who was a layer out of lawns &c) said "Now here you will find about 8 or 9 inches of mould" — the only point is that the slope B to D much certainly have been originally pure chalk

From top of B to bottom of ditch D 49 ft ∠ of slope 28° to 30°

Ditch very broad see breadth

Mound half way down slope 3 15/42 then mixed flint chalk & mould, few W. casting light coloured

[in margin:] I do not believe the explanation the small amount of mould thrown up in sinking. B must have been curious with chalk

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_015]

Feb 14 See back

11)

Mould in ditch which was very broad 3 1/4 i then mixed fl: ch: M.

Examined W slope below lower ditch the slope was natural surface & slope away almost to a level grass field

about 2 to 3 yds below lower ditch — mould only 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches (∠ 25°)

1/2 way down slope 40 or 50 yds (∠ 24°) mould was 2 to 2 1/4 i

At base of slope 80 or 90 yards lower nearly level mould 8 1/4 i with very few little bits of chalk flint imbedded then came to flint bottom some flints bits of chalk were lying about apparently having been kicked out of a path that ran diagonally across hill

Lots of splendid castings — it is clear that wherever the soil improves the castings increase in size, and I think they increase as the slope increases certainly on the chalk artificial slopes in the N & E they are much less than on natural surface

[CUL-DAR63.99-110_016]

[sketch]

D to 1 40 to 50 yds

1-2 40-50

2-3 10 yds

3-4 20 yds

4-5 20 yds

5-6 20 yds

between 2 & 3 an old low bank & ditch forming an old boundary runs general 8 up of valley at 2 & 3 nearly 2° — Gardener was positive that after thunder showers he had seen water rushing down such valleys — the bottom of this valley roughly speaking was 20 — 25 yr old

wide — for D 1 .2 see back

at point 3; 8 1/2 pure mound 15 1/2 good mould with very few flints must dig deeper

at 4 mould 8-9 i

at 5 [do] 8 i

at 6 [do] 7 3/4

[CUL-DAR63.34_001]

Feb 22/72

Worms

Dr Forbes says he has good reason for believing that changes of temperature not only the sun even deep down, owing to percolation of water has important influence of disintegration. — Water with carb acid not only removes matter, but combine & form new minerals (not yet published) & exerts purpose by expansion. Agrees about frost & Tropics — Agrees that fragment in bath of water & carbonic acid more acted on the freely exposed rocks — Proved that it is not ammonia which acts on glass — In thick silex in 2 states, in one soluble in plain water; so that water alone has more power of disintegration than wd be expected — Many angular fragments of chalk are rounded owing to point being over exposed on each sides to the action of moisture.

Says he has seen on mountain of Norway Hemline wrinkles, where there are no sheep. 

[in margin:] On disintegration of rocks

[David Forbes (1828-1876) was a mineralogist and geologist. This records a conversation during Darwin's stay in London in February and March 1872. Darwin mentioned some of these details in a letter to his brother on [1 March 1872] , Correspondence vol. 20, p. 94.]

[CUL-DAR63.34_002]

roots exerting Carbonic acid wd be dissolved

[CUL-DAR63.115_001]

March 7 1872 [William E. Darwin]

Teg Down near Winchester

Scale 12 yards to the inch Valley runs N. E. SW Sloping 2° to 3° to N. E

(? see back Never been touched it is believed)

[boxed:] Scale of thickness of mould 1/48 inch to the inch

[sketch:] transverse section

(1) Uplift of mould 4 inches then rubble getting quickly thicker rubble probably 2 to 3 ft before coming to pure chalk

(2) Mould 6 3/4 inches flints & mould 6 inches then rubble

(3) Mould 3 3/4 i flints & mould 5 to 6 inches then rubble

(4) Mould 4 to 4 1/4 i then rubble with few flints no layer of flints.

(5) Mould 5 1/4 i Mould flint & little chalk 5 3/4 then rubble

(6) Mould 6 1/4 i Mould & flints 12 3/4 good deal of mould then rubble

(7) slope of valley 1 3/4° Mould 9 i. 10 1/2 mixed M. & flints then rubble

(c) centre of valley level Mould 8 1/4 to 8 1/2 perhaps sheep horses & man occasionally walking here thru' there is no mark way depress the centre

(8) slope of valley 1 1/4° mould 8 3/4 i

(9) Mould 8 inch

between (10) & (11) remarkable change of level the surface looks quite natural

(10) Mould 7 to 7 1/4 i down on Rubble no flint layer. Castings lighter coloured

5 yards above (10) mould 6 1/2 i in ditch 8 1/2 yd above ditch 5

(11) Mould 2 1/2 inch on chalk rubble no flints layer. Enormous number of castings & lighter coloured

(12) Mould on to chalk lighter coloured

2 yrds to the right [illeg] was 5

(13) Mould 2 inch flint & rubble

between (13) & (14) traces of ditch not a deep one run in direction of run of valley

(14) Turf here was same years ago but laid down again without touching round surface heaps of castings 4-5 i of mould

(15) 3 1/2 to 4 i mould then flint

(16) top of valley general slope to N. E 3 1/2° mould 3 to 4 i [illeg] flint

(17) over brow of hill sloping other way general slope to N.E 2° mould 4 to 4 1/2 i

[CUL-DAR63.115_002]

[sketch:] transverse section, continued

1/4 of scale possibly = 1 inch to 48 yards. Thickness of mould 1/40 of inch to inch

about 200-250 ds lower down his valley where the sides of the valley are not half the height or length, the general slope is about 3° — 2° — 2° here a large bank & ditch runs across bottom, mould 9 i

I never saw grass slopes so covered with casting. In winter Erny has been this bottom after a sharp thaw with 1 ft to 1 1/2 ft of running water in it He is going to ask shepherd how it is after thunder storm.

N. B. Erny is the labourer I had with me

- the weather was dry and on slopes of about 18° — to 20° where there were a great quantity of castings, I found very few loose bits, the castings appear as a rule to stick tight as this dry to the grass — I saw several cases where castings had melted away into the ground again

As Erny said, from the enormous quantity of castings if any considerable portion descended the hill, the tops ought all to be bare

Does the castings get a stickiness from passing through the worm?

[CUL-DAR63.115_003]

April 6 1872 [William E. Darwin]

Rifle Valley — next valley beyond Teg Down

[sketch:] transverse section

Valley runs N.W & S.E.

Section across is N.E to S.W at point X on right the ground slopes in opposite direction at ∠3°

at 1 ∠ down valley in question 1° (one degree) depth of mould — 5 3/4 inches

at 2 ∠ is 23° — Do — 2 to 2 1/4 [inches]

at 3 bottom of steep slope — Do- 4 3/4 to 5

at 4 ∠ between 3 & 4 between 8° & 9° — Do — 8 3/4 to 9

at 5 30 yards up to the other side — Do — 4 3/4

N. B. To all appearance, this valley has no been touched

Mem as to Teg Down on March 28th wind blowing down valley & rain casting flattened down and extended & furrowed in direction of valley

Mem, April 6 Erny (the labourer) and I came to the conclusion that though Teg Down had not been touched for 60 or 70 years as Erny knew for certain, thus some time or other the bottom as shewn by faint lines on each side had some time been broken up.

see between 10 & 11 on the right

[CUL-DAR63.115_004]

[6 words illeg] to get whole worm castings [illeg] with my work [illeg] & vegetable mould where only it is there & are [chalk]

Also if not [2 words illeg] the carbon & oxygen [matter] be burnt out of such thin layer of mould?

[CUL-DAR63.112]

March 7/72

Worms

After showing that castings washed down — give evidence from Teg Down Valley [Winchester] with wood-cut — thickness in bottom wd have been much greater had it not been for flow during storms — 2d percolation with Chalk [3d] & dissolution of chalk (for mould & casting consist largest of carbonate of lime & carbon) The dissolution explains thickness of mould on chiller downs

These go on the old Ridge & Furrows

Also old Ruins.

Percolation of mould explains worms descending low down — W. dried chalk & put it into muddy water- again dried if or — & fine firm Earthy matter was then sucked in.

[CUL-DAR63.21]

March 29/72

After & during very Heavy rain & storm, William saw castings in valley near Winchester all drawn out & chalked furrowed on surface in direction of wind, which was down a steep-sided valley, so that the castings had travelled on slope along the line of valley

[in margin:] no

[CUL-DAR63.113-114_001]

March 30/72

[in margin:] Bear on Disintegration Habits & Teg Down

I have been considering again William's section of Teg Down & looking at the earth. High up on slopes & on sides on each side the mould only 3-4 inches thick & very black & contains very little or even no carb. of lime, ie does not effervesce.

[insertion:] Can a supply of Earth come slowly for that downs above — if they are flat Downs above

So that if there is several washing down how is it formed? If much adding worms burrowing into chalk it wd contain as much carb. of lime — On other hand the castings when turn on surface wd have been dissolved — Yet. W. [William] is convinced as I am that there is much washing down. — This rather greater thickness of mould at bottom of valley agrees with them, & the percolation of mould elsewhere into the chalk. — In fact when mould only few inches thick many castings & then quite black; & here we hope evidence, as I had in my field over red clay This

[CUL-DAR63.113-114_002]

that worms live almost exclusively in surface — In certain considerable spaces of the valley the castings & the mould whitish & chiefly formed of C. of Lime. — What can make the worms percolate the chalk in these spaces alone?

I buried leaves in Garden 6 weeks ago & lately looked at then, all rotted & worms abounded; Frank finds bits of bark & straw in gizzard so that I believe they certainly select decaying veg. matter & swallow so much Earth at least in large part, as means of burrowing. This shown by what I saw, when pressing up through 23 inches of yellow sand on sand-walk & better by the 6 wider over floor in Beaulieu abbey. — W. washed the castings several times so as to remove all mud & out of 33 gr of castings brought up beneath the tiles from rubbish below 19 gr.

[CUL-DAR63.113-114_003]

consisted of minute particles of quartz & other rocks; (perhaps from disintegrated mortar) Some of the fragments of slaty rock was between 1/10 & 1/20 of inch in length & vast numbers were 1/10 of inch in diameter. The larger proportion of grains of quartz & rock [unite] castings & their size shows that the casting are largely due to the means & act of burrowing. — It was remarkable that some few grains, consisted of brick & were well rounded & thus moist. I think be due to action of the muscular gizzard of the worms; & considering how much matter annually passing through their alimentary canal, thus triturating action in the formation of the finest mould ought not to be quite [implanted] considering the disintegration of mushy beneath the turf.

[CUL-DAR64.2.26]

March 30. 72

Conclusion

The block of earth which when damp was 211.44 cubic inches & which when dry shrank to 180. g do. was broken up into powder & minute particles, & then measured 130 inches ounces = 225. 2851 cubic inches.

Therefore in measuring dry castings, though they would suck when [illeg] becoming 10 per cent, but when measuring in glass & forceful odour they are packed much less closely than in the natural mould, which consist of castings spread out slowly by rain; & George have ascertained the rising of the ground thus calculated must be reduced by 1/16 — so that if by measurement in ground rose 1 inch in 10 years, it could really rise 1/16 of an inch less than the % inch.

[CUL-DAR64.2.27]

Frank subtracts 1/16 of thickness from the 2 following layers.

Terrace .0961200 inch in thickness

1/16 = .0060075

15/15 = .0901125

Common .1524 inch in thickness

.009525

.142875 = 15/16

[CUL-DAR64.1.5]

Down

1872 [7 August] Worms

After longish interval, when there were no castings in open places, now Aug 7th worms have begun to work again on open lawn. —

Aug 10-20 I observe on open field plenty of fresh castings at Leith Hill. — The height of which Lucy made her square is about 700 ft, on open common land, but not near the Tower.

Keep for Habit.

[At the start of 1872, Darwin wrote to his niece Lucy Caroline Wedgwood (1846-1919) asking her to "have a try with straight blunt knitting needle to ascertain, whether on steep slopes the worms come to surface at nearly right angles to the slope, or at nearly right angles to the horizon". Within two weeks, Lucy produced some results and praised her saying "You are worth your weight in Gold".]

[CUL-DAR65.25_002]

Oct 22d 1872

Knole (Habit)

In the great beech forests from one to 200 yrs old there is no vegetation, & I cd not find a single casting: how different from the oak woods, near Down. (a) But From ancient & obscure traces in the forest the ground must have been once cultivated & if ploughed, it is intelligible that the surface is scattered over with stones & it is interesting that these stones still are everywhere on the surface, & have not been covered up with a layer of mould; yet the surface is most thickly covered & has been annually with matted leaves. There is no sign of the surface being m. washed by rain, as is explained by the thick covering of branches & dead leaves.

[CUL-DAR63.81-82_001]

Knole

Oct 22. 1872

Worms

After several wet days & much rain last night, almost all the recent castings have subsided; & those on the steep slopes even where covered with coarse grass, have manifestly flowed a little downwards. This was manifest from the shape of the smooth, flattened, conical heap, & was proved in some cases in which I found the orifice. These castings had a larger diameter down the slope than transversely. Mem. dry pellet during dry seasons, wind, insects, birds &c. There must be some carrying down, the sole question is, whether enough to produce any desirable effect.

[CUL-DAR63.81-82_002]

Worms

Oct 23d / 72/

3)

Knole — There is artificial bank, behind Rifle largest in Park, the sides of which slope at angle of about 45° or 50°. One side (N) covered with thick, long coarse grass, but worms bring their castings to surface. There & others on opposite side had flowered much down; & other older ones were crumbling & rolling down. There can be no doubt that a steep turf around trenches wd in the course of several centuries become gully [illeg] & slope [illeg] by action of worms.

Oct. 24th — Observed innumerable subsided castings, to effect of rain before the 22d, & there exhibited no trace of the external vermiform structure. This last was very conspicuous, as the worms had found through bored & had made first castings on the summit — when a casting has subsided in that more like so much water, no evidence is requisite that when on a slope. even a gentle slope, there must be no flowing down. — nevertheless give evidence

[CUL-DAR64.2.33]

Oct 24 [1872]

In year 1852 (ie 20 years ago) part of great turnpike road was enclosed in Park. Miss Wordington remembers it was long bare: now it is covered with turf from 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches in thickness — average perhaps 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 in thickness — But I could find no castings on this old road, & this makes me think that after some years a thin layer of Earth must have been spread over the road —

If not I cannot understand the case.

Not worth giving

[CUL-DAR65.25_001]

Oct 25th [1872]

Examined another large & bare forest of Beech & not one casting; nevertheless in one part of another part I did find a few when there was no grass, but the trees perhaps not quite so thick. A very narrow glade ran down to thickest part of forest, & here there was some grass & castings abounded, & so in another place close there was a peninsula of grass in forest & there were many castings. (Above to this come under Stony field)

[CUL-DAR63.23]

Jan 2d 1873

After very heavy late rains & strong wind innumerable cases in my Field of castings with windward side sloping & lee-side steeper or perpendicular or overarching.

Shallow pools of water in my field in depression are decidedly muddy & mud deposited on leaves at bottom; are surrounded by grass, I think must be due to washing of numerous castings

[CUL-DAR63.24]

Ap. 15/73

I see castings on great sand Heap Sand-walk pure reddish sand firmly cemented & part of lawn heap. blackish from below

During winter marked castings on Lawn frost & then has no power of disintegrating them.

[CUL-DAR64.1.10]

Nov 27 74

In bed of sifted cinders strewn all over bottom of a cold foam for plants, earthworm had thrown up their castings though in thickness of 3 1/4 inches.

[CUL-DAR64.2.46]

Dec 1876

Coins found near Abinger

	AD
Faustina wife of Antoninus Pius	133-161
Marcus Antoninus (Coined at Antioch)	161-180
Claudius Gothicus	268-270
Constantius II	337-361

Two smaller coins probably of Valentinian 364-375

George I — 1715

[Abinger Hall, Dorking, Surrey was the home of Thomas Henry Farrer, who assisted Darwin with his worm research.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.11]

March 2d 1877

In Sand-walk 2 great heaps, long left to decay were removed some months ago & now the bare surfaces are covered with brown worm-castings to a degree I never saw equalled — This shows that the sunken earth is but with vegetable matter in relation as food.

(Used)

(It will account through penetration for earth beneath an ancient ruin not becoming exhausted — if decaying matter or leaves accumulated at its base)

(Habit)

[CUL-DAR64.2.35-36_001]

Jun 10th 1877

1)

Leith Hill Place.[See Earthworms, p. 149]

A lime kiln was pulled down 35 years ago, [2 words illeg] a year, which stood in a sloping grass-field. Three layers quartzose sand later slabs were left lying on brick-rubbish & bits of stones near the spot [insertion:] believed to have found bed of Kiln where kiln stood. The earth is sandy slightly argillaceous & about 1/3 counts of angular fragments of sandstone.

[sketch A:] 64 inches [by] 17 inches

The uppermost one has shown greatly elongated — 9-10 inches thick. — Lawn surface in middle slightly protuberant in parts. The protuberances now lying on bits of bricks & stones. The general level of lower surface is between 5 & 6 inches beneath crust of outer. The surface of level rose all round stone, from a distance of about 9 inches, so that the margin of field in contact with the stone was in most places 4 inches above the surface of field, as ascertained by placing long straight square on the field, after the stone was removed. In one part however, the margin consisted of live worms -lifted earth to a thickness of 7 inches. At first worms filled up spaces beneath the stone & then raised surface of field round it — many castings round edges. At attenuated point A surface of field on a level with top of stone. — In another casting cd have been buried.

[annotation to sketch:] Section after removal of stone / 9 inches / 5 or 6 inches beneath edge of [illeg] / 9 inches / level of field

Section across the stone ie 17 inches all cd be laid down on sides

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.2.35-36_002]

on meadows at base of cliffs we do not see great fragments & yet during storms or struck with lightning stones must continue roll from one field.

[CUL-DAR64.2.35-36_003]

2)

Great middle stone or rather slab

[sketch — measurements]

[Length] 67 inches

[Width] 39 inches

[Depth] 15 inches thick

Nearly level but with some shallow path

This great slab nearly level on under surface, slightly protuberant in parts on middle, in which it must have vertical at first on pieces of brick & stones. The lower surface about say 4 1.2 about 5 inches beneath edge of field. Raised margins in some part 2 or 2 1/2 inches high, but in some parts 5 1/2 high — say 3 inches but sloping outwards from 14 to 16 inches, so a good deal of earth must have been removed. The margin was considerably higher along the southern than along the northern margin.

Earth beneath the stone as in last case — in most part fine, as worms had first to fill up cavities — quite damp. — but it is a stronger fact that in digging beneath the stone that a depth of 18 inches only 2 worms were seen, & very few burrows, there was however one at the depth of 18 inches, — Beneath both these stones there were enormous colonies of ants, & probably they are hostile to worms, if so the wall must have been down before the colonies formed. — Some castings close round edge of stone. — So bring the stone to level of field supposing ants to be about wd require about 35 x 4 [=] 140 years.

The process cd probably go on slower as stone sank, so say 200 years:

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.2.35-36_004]

3)

Third & sunken stones somewhat lower down field, & which I do not doubt had been rolled lower down slope at some of more recent times, (a strong worm was about to roll it over) & it rested with pointed part & whole lower surface one worm lifted earth which must have been grass-land & not in any part on brick rubbish. Only 38 inches long & 19 inches wide & 12 inches thick.

The raised margin generally only about 1 inch high but in one part 2 inches high. Slightly protuberant in middle part of lower surface. How no [earth] — I found several burrows by digging in earth beneath

(It is possible that passage from the stones such sands soil full of fragments of stones could have bulged up earth round many of stones, as might have happened had they rested on clay — Earth also matted with grass roots — Round margin protuberant placing [found] of castings)

The 3 great stones had probably been rolled a little to other side on the road to Kiln or agree where much brick rubbish lay when kiln was pulled down, thinking this they wd be of use & wd then been left there for the 35 years

(June 11 I have looked at stones; it is clear that ends must have been some height above ground when first laid down. —no doubt partly filled up by worms and partly subsidence of stones by burrows beneath. The 2 upper stones which rested chiefly on bricks & stone rubbish cd have small but very little by mere pressure or weight — Lower earth sand & fragments stone.)

N.B in thickest part of mound are plenty of very large castings

[CUL-DAR64.2.37_001]

All used

Lowest Stone

[annotated sketch]

Margin above, 1 1/2 above field but in parts 2 inches above level

stone somewhat protuberant in middle

Middle stone

[annotated sketch]

4 inches deep from general mainly flat under surface slightly protuberantin middle

1 stone

Edging 2 or 2 1/2 high

Slope 14 to 16 inches

[CUL-DAR64.2.37_002]

All used

Upper most stone

[annotated sketch]

Grass surface protuberant

base 6 inches

Spacing 9 inches

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_001]

June 19th 1877 Stone Henge [William E. Darwin]

[in margin by Darwin:] Previous part about the Ring

3 We took the following measurements at two rings near Stone Henge thus.

The rings consisted of a small mound & ditch thus, and were about 50 yards in diameter from bottom of ditch to bottom of ditch.

The depth of mould was found by thrashing a small spade into the ground until it was stopped by stones, and the measuring from the top of the blade of spade

Depth of blade of spade = 5 3/4" Width of blade = 3 3/8",

These measurements were made 5 yrds apart, and the bearing of the centre of the ring from every other of these points was taken with prismatic compass.

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_002]

[sketch and calculations]

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_003]

4.

Stone Henge South Ring

Bearing of centre of ring from mount by prismatic compass

depth of spade = 5 3/4= 23 (1/4")

1. Depth as measure from top of the NW spade in inches

2. Do. in quarter inches

3. Thickness of mould in quarter inches

[annotation by Darwin:] vg average thickness is well over 1 3/4

See larger curve

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_004]

5)

Stone Henge North Ring

Bearing of centre of Ring from points of observation

Thickness of mould [annotation by Darwin:] is 1/4 inches near base of ditch — one inner side

[Table of measurements]

See larger curve

*Results doubtful from rabbit holes.

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_005]

6)

South Ring

At about the points marked SW and N.E on the curve the following measurements were taken close together

[annotation by Darwin:] Does this relate to bottom of ditch? Where

S.W. Depth of mold

2 1/4

2 1/2

2 1/4

2 1/4

2 1/4

2 1/4

13 3/4 = 13.75 [÷] 6 [=] 2.29

Average 2.29

See curve *

NE. Depth of mold

1 1/4

1 1/2

1 1/4

1 1/2

1 1/4

2

8 3/4 = 8.75 [÷] 6 [=] 1.458

Average 1.458

See curve *

This side was far more stoney on the surface of the grass

About 60 yds

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_006]

[graph]

The [illeg] represents [the bearings of the centre from points of observation]

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_007]

[Graph]

[represents] the bearings of the centre from points of observation

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_008]

North Ring

[graph:] P. P. points of observation; Diagram: Rough outline of mound

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_009]

7)

Deviation of compas

∠0 = circular measure 2.9/10

I found that prismatic compas gave the bearing of a road at Southern plain to be 306°; and by the map that this road made an angle whose circular measure was .29 north of west that is an angle of 17°

Or, 306° of prismatic compas corresponds to 270° + 17° = 287°

306 [-] 287 [=] 19

∴ to get true bearing subtract 19° from reading of compas.

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_010]

The following measurements were taken with spade as before at North Ring

[sketch]

This sketch shows the position that the measurements were taken, 3 measurements were taken at each point near together.

[sketch]

[annotation by Darwin:] (Earth ought to be thicker in bottom of ditch than elsewhere.)

If wind has influence, mould at A ought o be thicker than at B — & slight at D than at E

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_011]

9)

North Ring

N. E side of Ring roughly

Depth from top of spade	Thickness of mould	Mean	N. E Thickness of mould	S W Thickness of mould
Top 4 1/4 4 3/4 4 3/4	1 1/2 1 1	3.5/3 = 1.166	Top of Bank	Top 1.75
1/2 way down 4 3 1/4 4 3/4	1 3/4 2 1/2 1	5.25/3 = 1.75	Halfway from Bank	3.25
Bottom 2 1/4 1 3/4	3 1/2 4	7.5/2 = 3.75	Bottom of Bank 3.75	3.66
10 yrds from Top 2 1/4 2 3/4 2 1/2	3 1/2 3 3 1/4	9.75/3 = 3.25	On plain 10 yard	3.5

See smaller curve

3.25 [+] 3.5 [=] 6.75 [÷] 2 [=] 3.37 thickness [illeg] , mould on plain 10 yards outside ditch of northern Ring

[CUL-DAR63.118-127_012]

10)

North Ring

SW side of ring

	Depth of mould	Mean depth of mould
Top 4 3 3/4 4 1/4	1 3/4 2 1 1/2	5.25/3 = 1.75
1/2 way down 2 1/4 2 3/4 2 1/2	3 1/2 3 3 1/4	9.75/3 = 3.25
Bottom 2 1/4 1 1/2 2 1/2	3 1/2 4 1/4 3 1/4	11/3 = 3.66
10 yrds from top 2 1/4 2 1/4 2 1/4	3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2	3.5

See smaller curve

[CUL-DAR64.2.82-83_001]

[Draft sketch of Fig. 7 from Earthworms.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.82-83_002]

June 19th 1877

[Draft sketch of Fig. 7 from Earthworms.]

Section of inner stone at Stone Henge: June 19th 1877

Scale 1/2 inch to the foot

Level of ground

West

East / [illeg] dotted

why is this upturned

This dotted line is very fine

Draw Horizontal line

also dotted lines to show [base] of turf in both sides also grass

[CUL-DAR64.2.82-83_003]

Jun 22d 1877

Visited the Abbey

Abbey very large — Tiles about 5 1/2 inch square. The cement by which joined in most places quite sound & impenetrable by worms; but then have brought castings up in certain points when they have been all to [penetrate] ; & there was a good many in 2 of the square places (the 3d place permanently closed), although the place had be cleared out about a month ago! — The general appearance of turf over whole surface like that of most of field. It is incredible that earth would have been spread [initially] over which surface of aisles.

I begin to doubt whether an old wall could even sink — (The foundation of column of aisles are now quite covered with mould & turf, but then when Henry VIII removed, as is said, all the stones for building castle, we do not know whether he tunnelled below the sunken of the field — When Arch. Soc. visited the site a few years ago — a large surface of the tiles was cleared & exhibited. — The tiles must I think have badly sunk.

[CUL-DAR64.2.84-84a_001]

2.

[sketch of stone at Stonehenge, later Fig. 7 in Earthworms.]

We took section of a small inner stone, see drawing

Place of stone

[sketch] The section drawn is looking from this side i.e looking north.

[CUL-DAR64.2.84-84a_001]

[Draft sketch of Fig. 7 from Earthworms.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.85_001]

[in margin:] divided by 52 week in year

May 18th — On White Field up village where castings very chalky & large today measured square yard & picked up all castings, as field was rolled a little after 7 1/2 weeks ago, 49+3, there have accumulated within this period. They weigh when well dried 1 lb 13 1/2 oz = 16 [+] 13 1/2 [=] 29 1/2 oz.

I went before field rolled seeing there very numerous on same place, so many times as much as above weight must [have] been cast up in year on square yard —

Weather lately very dry for 2 or 3 weeks or two have been & not one of casting fresh; so that casting was up in course of 5 weeks.

(I picked out places where they were thick, but I daresay risen thicker on some spots how did I collect all the minute fragments as the trouble too great.) Therefore if castings were equally numerous all the year 9 times the above weight wd be thrown up in the year;

[CUL-DAR64.2.85_002]

but allowing for days summer & frost — we may only say between 5 & 6 times to above weight of 29 1/2 oz [x] 5 1/2 [=] 144 [+] 14 [=] 158 3/4 [÷] 16 4

(nearly 10 lb of earth in year)

I think I might fairly [illeg] by 6.

[CUL-DAR64.2.42]

Jun 28/77/

Netley Abbey

All the rubbish was removed some years ago & all the tiles had previously been removed. In the Chapter House without any roofing & well turfed — The worm mould was 4 1/2 inches thick but with the lower which or 2 containing bits of stones, tiles &c. There were worms in the excavation. — In the aisles & chancel — the mould not so deep. — old pavement everywhere removed.

[CUL-DAR64.2.41]

Aug 21/77

Abinger

[annotated sketch]

We must remember that earth brought up by worms with L washed away by heavy rain, as well as rest of upper surface of ploughed Field.

It is certain that tiles & summit of wall must have been covered by 5 or 6 inches of earth before land ploughed & some will have been added afterward by worms & some by washing down; it is impossible to judge of proportion —

Before cultivation probably poor vegetation, & I presume a sort of equilibrium is struck before humus brought up & washed down — compact turf wd probably probably preserve & woods

[The Darwins stayed with their friends, the family of T. H. Farrer at his home Abinger Hall from 20 to 25 August 1877.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.43-44-001]

Worms

Aug 21 1877

1)

Abinger-Roman Ruins

one worm at depth of 23 1/4 inches — another larger worm at a depth of 34 inches, & the hole (for the worm has cut through evidently went deeper — In another place in same undisturbed earth many holes lined with fine black earth (so that some humus is certainly carried far down) at the depth of 43 inches with holes going further down & here was a fine live worm disinterred.

It is certain that fine earth must be brought up by the action of worms, of which many were seen. But as field slopes gently & is ploughed & has long been cultivated & as earth light & it is known that during heavy rain much is washed down, it is impossible to say how much due to this cause & how much to worms. —

Over a concrete pavement (though which however I could see no signs of holes for worms) that was in

[CUL-DAR64.2.43-44-002]

2)

one part 10 inches of fine earth & in another part 14 inches & about 15 over a thick wall which was discovered. It is certain that pavement & walls must have been completely buried before field was ploughed — Adjoining to pavement & lower side into [depth] to slope of field there was only 6 1/2 inches of fine earth & 34 inches of fine earth mixed with many stones & tiles & mortar rubbish above the undisturbed native earth [*] . I suspect that level of land on the lower side was 2 or 3 feet beneath level of floor & that the many stones & rubbish was accumulated & thus worms filled up intestines after which I imagine which subsided but subside unequally, so that stones get separated by fine earth, some stones sinking more than others

We now [find] that the concrete was covered with very small square tiles 5/8 of an inch thick

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.2.43-44-003]

This was the first trench dug on the lower side of ruins & to the S. W, & lower than could have been but little [wash] at early times from the field, until all was demolished & levelled. here the depth was 6 1/2 + 34 before coming to undisturbed yellowish argillaceous compact sand.

There is no difficulty in believing that a wide expanse of turf has subsided. Equally & why shd be doubt about a paved floor if it can be penetrated by worms

[CUL-DAR64.2.43-44-004]

& above an inch square & I saw worm holes though [illeg] of the tessellated [illeg] one was cut through in its hole. So that earth cd certainly be brought up from below

In one place 11 inches over the tile & in another place 16 inches. The layer of tiles not quite seen.

Aug 23d I have found at least 6 or 8 points in the concrete surface, where worms have tried to come up, but were prevented making their castings by the boards on surface.

I have gone & counted & found 25 holes !!! several of [them] small, but some large, & on removing the little cake of earth, I saw the disappearing tails of 3 worms. These we examined consisted of the concrete with that portion on which the little tiles still adhere.

Aug 24th No castings except two baby ones! Very cold night or alarmed

[CUL-DAR64.2.47-48_001]

Aug. 22d

3)

(next day) Worms — Abinger

Many worms came out during night from bottom of trench outside wall which was 43 beneath level of field. I found 3 or 4 holes going right under foundation of old wall — See diagram. A worm found at 48 1/2 inch beneath surface. A worm hole at 51 1.2 — another hole 57 1/2 — another hole lined with black mould at 65 1/2 — This was a small hole, beneath this though careful search was made no holes nor worms were found. The hole was rare beneath 43 inches. (I found a so called nest lined with little pebbles about as large as mustard seed, with decayed oat, at the depth of 36 inches. I found another nest of same character (but no oat), lined with little pebbles at about same depth of 41 inches.) So some mortar beside the lining brought down.)

The Oat-field slopes at about angle of 7° towards the ruins. The tesselated pavement much narrower, some parts pavement that is at all probable when first made in 1 part sloped at 1° down to border of tessellation in one part slope at 8° 30'

[CUL-DAR64.2.47-48_002]

Area of one room (with small adjoining one) as few as yet exposed 14 by 9 feet.

In one spot summit of wall was only 6 inches beneath the surface of field, but the farmer who cultivated the land said they did not plough more than 4 inches in depth

[CUL-DAR64.2.47-48_003]

4)

The tesselated floor on a whole level, with some slight iniquities. — There is not the slightest trace of a break when the concrete on which the tesselated pavement was embedded joins the walls on 2 sides of the room. The wall wd subside slower owing to the foundation going to great depth, where the pavement & concrete, wd resist until much decayed worms bringing up earth. —

Upon the whole I incline to think pavement & summit of broken walls were covered up by worm-earth with extreme slowness to that depth, over which a plough cd pass, & that stones & rubbish occasionally fall (some brought with [illeg] ) & some fine earth washed down from higher part of field. I do not see how we can avoid this conclusion seeing the number of living worms & fresh holes at above 40 inches beneath the surface. If the holes did not slowly & ultimately collapse the whole earth in 15 centuries wd have

[CUL-DAR64.2.47-48_004]

been riddled like a sponge, & this was not the case; & we must remember that the earth from each burrow is brought to the surface' & when this part is washed away & travels down the gentle slope of [field] during heavy rains.

[CUL-DAR64.2.49_001]

[23 August 1877]

Cirencester

(1) When the Roman pavement has been cleared & exposed, do the earth-worms bring up their castings or pellets of earth to the surface, so that the pavement has occasionally to have swept brushed? If so, has the pavement to be swept once, twice or oftener during the year? Can it be remembered whether such worm-castings were brought up to the surface soon after the pavements were found exposed?

(2) Is the tesselated pavement quite level, or have parts or single tiles subsided a little? were they washed down [2 words illeg]

(3) Is it accurately known How deeply the pavements were covered with earth & stones: was the covering

[Darwin did not mention Cirencester in Earthworms.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.49_002]

chiefly stones or fine earth?

(4) Round the margins of the excavations are very little cliffs still left, by which I could see the thickness & nature of the matter which covered the pavements & basements of the walls — before any excavations were made. — C. Darwin

Aug 23d 1877

[CUL-DAR64.2.52]

24th [August 1877]

[in margin:] Abinger

What I found yesterday was bits of earth & concrete [trodded] firmly down were slightly cracked & rancid & on picking off the earth — I found worm-holes — So that it is certain that the concrete & tiles were penetrated by at least 25 holes, but there were only a few castings & I now suspect that after the surface earth was removed, the day being hot, the air in the holes expanded [3 words illeg] with crust & not as I had imagined that the worms had [illeg] the crust.

[CUL-DAR64.2.50-51_001]

Worm Journal

[Enclosed in a note from T. H. Farrer to Darwin on 23 September 1877]

Worm holes and worm casts on the exposed part of Roman remains. Abinger. Aug & Sept /77

25 August. Mr Darwin left. No fresh holes

26 — After very heavy rain. 40 holes washed clear —one worm coming out. 4 holes on v through east wall. No holes visible in the solid part of the concrete, where the water lay.

27 Aug to 5 Sept. absent from Abinger

5 Sept. Not so many holes, but many tracks. 5 or 6 worm casts.

6 — No new casts — many tracks

7 — No new casts — Worms seem at work again. many casts in meadow and lawn.

8 — 2 or 3 new casts

9 — No new casts

10 to 11. no observation

12. 10 fresh holes or casts. I defaced all the casts and raisings of the soil — The first sign of a hole is a lifting or cracking of the soil.

13. Soft wet weather. 31 freshly made casts and holes shewn by raising of the soil. I defaced them all

14 Mild soft weather. 34 freshly made casts & holes shewn as above. I defaced all.

[CUL-DAR64.2.50-51_002]

N.B. As castings I have counted only the earth or mud casts which bear the marks of having been through the worms body. There are often little piles of large grains of sand or small stones round the mouths of the holes. These I have not counted but they are I think less numerous than the castings

It is obvious from the great disproportion of castings to holes—that the worms come to the surface for some purpose other than that of merely getting rid of their castings.

[CUL-DAR64.2.50-51_003]

15 Sept. Mild damp weather. 44 freshly made holes — ground raised largely — not above 5 actual castings. Some of the holes in wall. I defaced all. holes & castings.

The holes and castings when defaced — are made again in the same places.

16 & 17 away

18. Cool with North East wind. 43 freshly made holes. 8 distinct castings. 2 worms visible — They do not get through the solid concrete but they do get through the wall. I defaced the castings -not the holes.

(Worms are now fully at work on the lawn & in the fields. Many on the old lawn: and in the meadows -not on deep recently moved soil. Plenty on the gravel paths though these are laid with beds of brick bats & lime rubbish. Very few on the peaty paths on the rough. Not many in the poor barren sand.)

19 Cool and dry. 40 holes — 8 distinct castings. I defaced the castings.

20. Wet night & day. 5 new castings. I defaced them

21. Fine cold night. after very wet day (20th)- 34 holes very few castings — one worm dead. I defaced nothing

22. with George Darwin. Fine fresh day after cold night 43 holes: Defaced all.

23. Damp day after damp cool night. 44 holes. 8 castings defaced all.

[CUL-DAR64.2.50-51_004]

Sept 25 — 1877

[Notes by Darwin]

Farrer writes 50 worm-holes were counted yesterday

In letter from Farrer dated Oct 13th 77 He says he counted 61 open worm holes on the old space.

[CUL-DAR64.2.38]

[annotated sketch]

 

[CUL-DAR64.2.39]

Mr Farrer's note-book on Remains

late in autumn of 1876 — trenched old Rock — yard to 2 — 2 ft 6 in deep

George 1 half-penny

(Used)

Aug 20th 1877 excavation began

The roots of the crown go down to burrows.

Oct 13th excavation resumed — a large pit 14 inches beneath the surface outside walls of C. N. E some many bones, cinders oyster-shells, fragments of Pottery

[CUL-DAR64.2.40]

"Markham's England" (p. 7) In 414 Romans compelled to withdraw from England all their Legions — speaks (p. 10) speaks of 420 A.D on the period of the withdrawal of the Romans

(Claudius died 270 A.D) [Cited in Earthworms, p. 215.]

(see to Abinger)

1880 — 420 [=] 1460 I may say probably took 14 & 1500 years

[CUL-DAR63.35]

Nov. 10th 1877

Worms

After very violent rain & strong wind, the castings on lawn seemed blown over to leeward, but Horace suggests that part of appearance may be due to the windward side having been washed down. He suggests splashes with mud wd be carried to leeward, bits have soil I think too adhesive. On steep bank below Terrace walk the castings have I think certainly slided much down hill.

Horace asks what wd be effects of subsidence of solid mass of larger of mould on hill side as holes collapse, we know not whether as is probable they go in vertically to vegetable mould or to centre of Earth.

Nov. 12 On steep bank below Terrace I think certainly some castings have flowed downwards.

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_001]

[November 1877]

[Notes by Francis Darwin]

Chedworth

Level pavement — 8 in concrete over hypocaust — tree makes bulging

Bathroom pavement is 3' — 4" (p 7B) from roof of tree on a wall

Wall in garden big worm 13 in from upper surface of stone which is 8 in deep, just

[Chedworth, Gloucestershire. The Roman ruins were on the estate of James Farrer's (cousin of T. H. Farrer) nephew John Scott, third earl of Eldon. See #Earthworms, pp. 197-199.]

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_002]

pressed under edge of Well

Mr. Joachim

Worm (2) hibernating cockchafer & beetle grub 1 foot from top the worm move under than worm (1) Worm hole probably same

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_003]

as the 1st or 2nd.

This wall is covered only by few inches grass & mould. The worms are working in yellow clay soil with lumps of oolite in it. Found 3 big ones a few inches deeper than worm 2 but not under wall. Worms seem torpid

Worm 3 small 2 feet below level

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_004]

of soil on ledge — close to side of wall — Went down 2' 6" from soil on ledge & found no worms — except 1 or 2 near surface. About 5 in of black mould with few stones in it on top of old undisturbed

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_005]

wall outside — several at the back wall of stables — Tile found 22 in from surface

H. [Horace] forgot to put down that the tesselated have over hypocaust are level except where a big tree grew.

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_006]

Wood above stable behind outside wall 2' 2" of black mould full of stones above yellow clay

[CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_007]

[sketch]

a g & c d two trenches

c d 1st Room excavated Aug 1877

A lump of earth never excavated

Line of hedge

[annotation by Darwin:] Horace I was right

[CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_001]

Nov 14th

[annotation by Darwin:] Chedworth?

Barton Pavement

Floor below level of ground [Nov] 17} in two places

The floor was damp no worms

It was arched in places, by the swelling of the vegetable fibre between terrace I suppose

On the top of the mortar between the terrace, a little sand in a few places evidently brought up by something from below the floor was very wavery

[CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_002]

Chedworth

D in place.

Worms at work on grass between stones the hypocaust

The hypocaust was hollow from what the woman says

Judging from pieces of detached tessarae with the concrete; worms could not get through it.

[CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_003]

over Hypocaust

Room marked P worms at work. In this room there was turf over the pink concrete turf was about 1 1/2" thick.

Found worm hole going right through pavement we measured it 2 2/1 below level of tessarae & it went deeper. Worm made very few castings here.

Found a worm coiled up 3 1/2' below about where the floor was in rotten concrete & worm uncoiled. We found no tessarae

[CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_004]

just at their point & so had the grass the level of the floor. Mould not black, hole did not go way deeper as far as we could see.

First wall we dug at found big worm hole 1'-0" from lot of stone & 11 1/2" from edge we dug at, the wall was about 13" thick, & top of it was about 1 1/2 below grass, it had been uncovered before.

[CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_005]

H D [Horace Darwin] claim	5 — 19
F D [Francis Darwin] claim	6 — 14
Total spent	12 — 14
Watch	4 — 1
Journey	8 — 13

[CUL-DAR64.2.58]

Nov 14 1877

"The Barton" Pavement. Cirencester

Large pavement entirely roofed over, excavated about 30-40 years ago. The surface was damp and puffed up in places into blister like bulges which yielded to pressure as if the tessarae had become too big to lie flat. The pavement looked green from the amount of minute green growth coming up between tessarae, which may cause this bulging. There were also large bulges probably caused by a big tree which had grown in the middle of the pavement.

On the top of the mortar between the tessarae there was a little sand found which has evidently been brought up from below by something

The pavement is in Mr Andersons garden & we could only measure from the level of the gravel walk. The pavement was in one place 1' -0" in another 1' — 7" below the level of this walk.

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_001]

[15 November 1877]

1)

Memorandum on Silchester:- copied from the Journal of Excavt. 15 Nov 77

On Tuesday Nov 13. 1877 Messrs. F. & H. Darwin went to Silchester with me when we were enabled to carry out in the course of three hours a very careful examination of several exposed vertical cuttings, from the herbage, directly down to the floors of R. Construction.

1st. Investigation. — House excavated in the Meadow, (1) contiguous to the Spring. Two objects were in view. 1st. inspection of floors sunk toward the centre & away from the walls. 2nd. The texture of the mould overlying walls & floors.

General Aspect: This excavation presents at this date the following:- viz. a quadrangle in the centre, round 3 sides of which runs a corridor or ambulatory with tesselation left in patches upon its floors. The ambulatory is on the N. the E. & the S. none on the W. Upon the N. ambulatory there abuts a range of Rooms, five (or more strictly, six,) in number, with floors of tesseræ remaining in four. Examination was first directed to ascertain what amount of sinking or "sagging" had taken place where the tesselation was sufficiently complete to give data.

The S. ambulatory has remaining a piece of tesselation of large

(2) & coarse cubes of tile, chipped to 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch each,)

(3) A line was strained across tightly from the level of the herbage on the N. to that on the S. opposite, (slope of

(4) field surface 3.'40o. from N to S.)

Depth of floor here below field surface—at the centre of the corridor 2ft.10" at the wall 2' 2 1/4" which gives the maximum depth of sinking or sagging of this floor 7 3/4 inches. The height of the summit of what remains of the walls 2', 1 1/2" below the field surface at this part, wh. leaves only 3/4 inch of wall above floor.

The N. Ambulatory was next examined.

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_002]

2)

The floor of the N. Ambulatory is disintegrated, it contains some rough tesselation but not enough to be any guide as to the amount of sinking. — Wall separating this ambulatory from the

(5) quadrangle 3ft. 5in. under field surface line. This wall, very slightly higher than the ancient floor was.

(6)

(7) The Rooms were examined next. The floor of a narrow rectangular room about the centre of the range was selected because in the most complete condition. The tesselation covers the greater part of the floor, but is absent at the S. end. Here is a strongly marked depression toward the middle so much so as to make it almost look as though a hypocaust were below the floor, but there is no ground to think this. Observing the tesselation, it is fairly perfect in the centre but appears to cease just before it arrives at the walls on both sides. It almost has the look of having been removed for a breadth of 5 to 6 inches. It does not seem that this was the case, there would have been no conceivable reason for taking away the tesseræ from there, those in the centre being both easier to get, & more obvious to see, if any person wished to take them, but it does seem on the other hand as if the whole body of tesseræ slid inward a little toward the depression in the centre without breaking up. (we omitted to take the exact depth of this hollow) The summit of the wall along the north side is 2' 7 1/2" below the field surface, & between the summit of the wall & the floor is a depth varying from 1' 6 to 1 ft. We examined the mould overlying this. The section was an excellent one, & showed exactly what was there. From the top of the wall to the herbage was 31 1/2 inches.

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_003]

3)

This 31 1/2 inches was made up of two distinct beds, the lower was 24" 1/2 deep. It is dark brown mould, very thickly interspersed with small sized pebbles of waterworn gravel, & with bits of Roman tiles, mere fragments, apparently worn by the friction of water, or weathered, till the sharp edges of their fractures are gone. There was a much larger intermixture of pebbles & bits of tile in this mould than we expected. Above this 24 1/2" bed, is the surface mould in wh. the grass grows. This is homogeneous, free from pebbles, rich & dense of a dark brown colour, entirely without any fragments of broken tile— & about 7 inches deep.

(9) The traces of worm casts were not so marked or so frequent here as we expected to have found them.

2nd. Investigation— In large excavation on the line of the Great N. Road, in the centre of the town -known as Block II.

General aspect. — a large Quadrangle — Ambulatories on the N. & S. both perfectly paved with tesselation in a perfect state, many rooms upon the outer side of these ambulatories, & along the west side also. — E side, no rooms open. Field surface found by a line strained tight above the centre of the S. ambulatory, from the herbage level at the W end to the herbage level at the E End.

Floor of South Ambulatory, tesselation quite perfect,

(10) 11 1/2 inches at East end, below the field, & 2ft. 4 1/2 in. at the west end, the field here sloping rather rapidly from W. to E. In this ambulatory there is very slight "sagging"— Examining the floor for worm casts, we found in a low part where water had remained &

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_004]

4)

left a deposit of mud (very slight), very distinct worm casts, where the worms must have come up between the tesseræ. Observing that here & there a tessera was loose, & a little higher in level, we removed these loose ones to look below, & found in each instance that a worm pipe existed underneath, where the loose tessera had been dislodged, & not unfrequently two pipes. This tesselation is formed not of tile work, but of hard sandstone, cubes abt 1 inch — chipped to shape with a tool.

We next investigated by measurement the exact sinking toward a centre in a Room where the floor is quite perfect The Room we measured is that immediately next to the Red Wooden Hut, — & is at the Western End of the last named ambulatory -on the right as one advances up the corridor from E to W.

(11) Section from N. to S

[sketch]

The maximum here is 5" 3/4, but it is obvious that the whole floor has sunk every where, more or less.

(12) On this floor whilst we were examining it we found a worm which had just come up between two tesseræ, nearly 7 inches long. Memorandum entered here "worms seem to lift some of the tesseræ completely out of their places." Yet there were very few worm casts visible on the face of the pavement.

Round the walls, in various places the tesseræ have parted from the wall -looking as if removed -in other places they remain in situ close up to the line of the wall of the room.

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_005]

5)

We examined next the corner Room of the same house "Block II" at the S.E Angle.

This Room in the corner was enlarged. There was an insertion of a large hypocaust into the original ground plan. The hypocaust and the room containing the furnace were next to this corner chamber, the original room was enclosed within the original walls o . o . o . o, but the part of the room at R. R. was removed to give more space for inserting the hypocaust. In order to compensate the chamber, its area was extended beyond the house wall on the S. and an addition A. A. A. was made, encreasing the size on that side but altering the shape.

In carrying out this change they did not remove away the portion of original wall at the centre of the altered apartment but left it under the floor buried. The floor has subsided considerably on each side, & leaves now a hump or ridge to indicate where the buried wall is. There is no visible trace of a wall but the certainty of

[sketch]

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_006]

6)

its presence was demonstrated by digging — it was found readily below the hump at 5ft. 4in. distance from the actual S. wall of the room.

(13)

(14)

(15) 3rd. investigation. Object, 1. to trace whether worms are to be found quite underneath the R. walls. and 2. whether may be traced as forcing their way right up through the centre of such walls.

For this, we investigated the walls now in process of present exposure, at the excavation which is in progress.

General aspect. — A large quadrangle of extraordinary magnitude & probably the quadrangle of some public place. Round its ambulatories — with suites of rooms, & hypocausts upon the western range. Masonry very solid -walls perfectly sound & strong—depth of the foundations below floor levels, 4 feet of substantial flint & mortar, 1ft. 6" thick throughout.

(16) Taking the fractured extremity of a principal wall on the N.— & near the N.W. angle of the building, a sinking was made deep enough to get below the lowest course of flints.— A spadefull of earth being

(17) thrown up from exactly underneath the wall itself several worms of very large dimensions appeared. Two in particular, 8 inches long, & 1/4 inch (or more) in diameter.

[annotation by Darwin:] Horace is sure did not come from beneath the wall

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_007]

7)

With a view to trace the presence of worms in the wall itself,

(18) if there, the lower flints were now removed, and the interior of the wall searched. It was soft & crumbly

(19) & appeared very moist. There was no doubt as to traces of worms being in the rotten mortar which was found in the middle of the wall. The mortar was not white, nor

(20) light coloured — it was quite dark, & largely mixed with mould. This was not its original condition, & the mould permeating it must be due to the action of worms which carry mould with them into the very heart of the wall, when they pass between the flints.

(21) But this investigation was at a fractured part, & the structure might be looser there in consequence. Therefore the investigation was repeated in two other parts of the same building, & in the instance of walls absolutely sound & good.

[in margin- Darwin:] perhaps cavities left in walls.

In the case of a wall upon the East side, now at this date in process of being exposed to view, a piece of wall was purposely opened for the first time

(22) to carry out this investigation. Worm casts & worm pipes were certainly found here in a fresh wall never exposed

(23) before. Mr Horace Darwin removed a flint of some size, & finding worm pipes he pursued these—one large pipe in particular, quite down into the very substance of this wall.

[CUL-DAR64.2.63-66_008]

8)

But being desirous of trying if possible more completely, I called Dr. F. Darwin's attention to certain chambers in this building at its S. W. Corner, where the walls have been laid entirely bare below the floor levels, the whole floor & its substratum being dug completely out, in order to exhibit the astonishing depth of the foundations. The walls go down quite 4 feet below the floors. The mortar here is perfectly hard, & looks quite fresh; With great effort a large flint was forced out of its place at a height of 12 to 14 inches from the bottom. It resisted strongly, seeming quite embedded in mortar as hard as cement, but once wrenched away, 24 there appeared traces of worms work behind it in the inside of the wall within. There was, even here, dark mould mixed in the mortar of the middle part, & this mortar itself in places, instead of being hard & close as one wd. expect, was friable & could be picked away by the finger.

The last experiment gave me more surprize, & brought more conviction, than any before it. I should have said, and did say, that it was perfectly impossible such a wall could be penetrated by, or could contain, any earth worms.

[in margin by Darwin:] It is somewhere said that fragment of tile &c have a worn aspect disintegration with removal of disintegrated matter as I supposed

J. G. Joyce. 15 Nov 1877.

[James Gerald Joyce was the superintendent of the excavations of the Roman town at Silchester, visited by Francis and Horace Darwin.]

[CUL-DAR65.99-101_001]

[Draft sketches for Figs. 5-7 for Earthworms.]

Fig. 4. This grass ridiculous to be done in conventional manner

oblique shading undisturbed subsoil

Undefined

Usual dark shading for Mould

Three kinds of fragments — white smooth pebbles — fragment of marl — & black very irregular coal — cinder

Section at Maer see back

Fig. 5.

[Two further sketches]

Leith Hill

This grass too untidy & too dark

AA Level of Field

Scale 1/2 inch to the foot

See fig. 6. about the kind of shading

Trial of grass and shading to see how you like it

This is merely to show kind of shading

[CUL-DAR65.99-101_002]

Description

Section in field at Maer Hall

Reduced to 1/2 natural scale

A. Turf 1/2 inch

B. from square mould 2 1/2 inches

C. mould with fragments (describe) 1 1/2

D. Substratum of black peaty soil with grey pebbles

[CUL-DAR65.99-101_003]

[Draft sketch of Fig. 8 for Earthworms, p. 180: "Section through the foundations of a buried Roman villa at Abinger."]

Fig. 7

Conventional grass

East

Mould dark shading

Mould Humus 9 inch Mould Earth Marl Stones 13 inches

Mould Humus mortar Humus mould undisturbed argillaceous sand

1/20 of inch to one inch

Trench here referential too narrow & not deep enough

Buried wall of room

West

Mould dark shading

Mould Humus 18 inches thick

Pavement Concrete

Earth nature unknown undisturbed argillaceous sand

Oblique shading

No writing

Buried remains of a Roman House

[CUL-DAR65.102-103]

Section 9 (paragraph 10)

No writing to be copied

Part between pencil-lines to be copied.

Upper bed of mould to be dark with grass & to match upper bed in section 8.

"Burnt wood" dark as in 8

"Broken mortar & concrete" to be Engraved like 2d bed in 8.

"Burnt wood" again shaded same way as above

"a bed of rubble &" only somewhat different from mortar & concrete

"The natural (underlying) gravel" to be engraved quite differently

Section 10.

Right side within pencil-lines

Upper bed of mould with grass engraved exactly like the same in sections 8 & 9

"Broken tiles & rubble" engraved like "bed of rubble" in 9.

"Jet black decayed timber" engraved like the burnt wood in 9.

"Deep gravel" engraved or shaded like gravel in 9.

[CUL-DAR65.104,106,108_001]

[annotated sketch by J. G. Joyce 15 November 1877]

No. 1. Section of Basilica Sep 27 1866

Sections of vertical cuttings at Silchester traced from the Journal of the Excavation

No. 2 Section in Building called "Block II" 8 Aug 1865

No. 3 Section in Block II 22 Nov 1864

No. 4 Section of a floor in Block I 2 Nov 1864

J. G. Joyce

Nov 15 1877

[CUL-DAR65.104,106,108_002]

[annotated sketch by J. G. Joyce]

No. 5 Section of a vertical cutting at the N. end of the Basilica

No. 6 Section to the depth of 5 feet taken at the centre of the Basilica by its E. Wall May 7, 1870 [annotation by Darwin:] Cut 11

[CUL-DAR65.104,106,108_003]

[annotated sketch by J. G. Joyce]

No. 7 Section in the Room of th Basilica called the Hall of Merchants

10 Sep 1868

[annotation by Darwin:] Fig. 8

[CUL-DAR65.105,107_001]

Section A

The original diagrams to be returned to me

Upper bed of mould (9 inches [above] coloured reddish) to be engraved dark as in cut 7. with conventional grass, as it represents dark vegetable mould: draw grass on surface.

Thick next bed with fragments to be shaded differently.

Heaps of black burnt wood — shaded dark, but differently from the mould. Over the black burnt wood an irregular layer of white plaster to be shaded more lightly. Beneath burnt wood floor of small tiles. The part between pencil lines to be copied. Cut book close. -

[CUL-DAR65.105,107_002]

Section 11.

Mould — engraved dark as in cuts 8, 9, & 10.

"Broken tiles" larger pieces — engraved lightish colour.

"Fine-grained dark rubbish" quite small bits of tiles, engraved rather darker

"Concrete" engraved of very light colour

"White stucco" engraved almost white

"Mud bottom" with some tiles some other style of engraving

"Dark, close substratum" no tiles — engraved darker but not like uppermost mould.

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_001]

[November] 1877

1)

Notes on Mr. Joyces Report

(1) This part was under grass; all the other places we observed were under plough. Mr. Joyce thinks that this field was under pasture in the 17th century.

(2) I brought away 4 of the tile cubes, two taken from the centre of the S. ambulatory, & two from one edge; these were marked on their upper surfaces C. for centre E for edge.

(3) There was a good deal of sag in the line, & was not a very satisfactory method, but the sagging of the line will tend to make the sagging of the floor appear a little less than it really was.

(4)

[sketch]

There was no hypocaust under this pavement according to Mr. Joyce. We found earth castings coming up between the tessarae; the tessarae were quite loose here. The pavement was tolerably level along lines parallel to the walls.

(5) Mr. Joyce took these measurements alone.

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_002]

2)

(6) At the N side of quadrangle the floors of the [worms] with Hypocaust were very uneven. Mr. Joyce told us [that] there was Boggy bottom to all this meadow.

(7) See picture to (4), there was 9" of mould at S and 6" at N, this was full black mould,

(9) There were not very many worm casts, I should say it was not a very wormy place.

(10) Mr. Joyce took these measurements alone, we were doing something else.

(11) In this section, in our notes we find the depth at 13' be 3 3/8" and at 14', 3 1/4" instead of 3 1/2" in both cases. If this were drawn, I think one would be able to see which was the true value by the curve. The whole distance between the walls was 18'—4"

(12) Mr. Joyce said that there were no hypocaust in this room; and he said that he had dug 10' deep down into the next room to see if they existed.

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_003]

3)

Fig G

(13) [sketch]

Distance from centre of wall to centre of wall = 15'-9"

All horizontal measurements were taken from centre of wall marked S, the figures under these show distance of top of tessarae to stairs.

Pavement was broken from 2' to 7' and from 9'-0" to 12'-8", the rest was fairly good.

The centre of the ridge was at about 6'-6", and the edge of the (old buried) wall at 5'-4" from the L edge of the S. wall. The wall was about 18" thick.

(14) In the room where Mr. Joyce found least earth covering the tesselated pavement, there was little or no sag. At this point there was 7" of earth.

(13 continued) This wall was an old wall built in hard malar, & with deep foundations. Mr. Joyce said that there was great difference in the kind of work in early & late times & this buried

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_004]

4)

wall belonged to the early period, and that this early period was before the time of Claudius 2nd.

(15) Frank found two worms under flat tile lying on one of the [illeg] walls, on black mould among gigantic flints of which the wall was built. The top flint would be very easily removed, & it looked as if the wall had been built with black mould instead of mortar; Mr. Joyce said that wall were sometimes built of mud in the later times.

(16) There were hypocaust in course of being uncovered now but we did not see them.

(17) We are sure that these worms did not come from under the wall.

(18) These flints fell down when the earth was taken from under them.

(19) We found a worm himself between the flints.

(20) We should not have reacquired the mortar between the flints as mortar in was brown and soft & damp.

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_005]

5)

(21) The worm mentioned in (19) was found in the wall just at the end at 2'-5" below the old & low level and, and 4'-1 1/2" below ground level.

(22) We saw nothing of value and so made no notes.

(23) I followed a worm pipe down from the top of another wall, which had been recently uncovered, it went down some distance between the flints in black mould, & seemed to come right through the wall, but I doubt it & could not be certain, the mortar was hard [and] the flints were not removed very easily.

(24)

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_006]

Mr Joyce thinks that the general thickness of tesselated pavement was about 4" to 6".

He says that it is the general rule for floors to sag away from the walls.

The Hypocaust above opened contained dusty stuff Mr. Joyce says, & it is soft for if the pick goes through the pavement it goes right through up to the handle; & that there were open spaces certainty in some cases.

Wattle & clob might have been used for building over the ruins & so account for some of the debris; Mr. Joyce says.

Mr. Joyce says that when a floor that is in unusually good condition is uncovered there is found & thin layer of sand as thick as a piece of paper over it.

At the place that we last examined Mr. Joyce pointed out to some gravel which he said from the appearance had been artificially placed there by the Romans, he described it as rammed gravel.

The walls had the appearance of being cut off level about 6" above the level of their floors, Mr. Joyce thinks it possible that there was a wooden or wattle & clob super structure

From notes by Francis & Horace Darwin

[CUL-DAR64.2.67-72_007]

[Three photographs of ruins of Roman floors.]

[At Darwin's behest, Francis and Horace set off to Cirencester in early November 1877. They took these notes on an excursion with the Rev. Joyce on 13 November 1877 and they "were enabled to carry out in the course of three hours a very careful examination of several exposed vertical cuttings, from the herbage, directly down to the floors of R. Construction." Correspondence vol. 25, pp. 467-468. This account of Francis and Horace's observations and report at Chedworth are discussed in Earthworms, pp. 197-199.]

[Rev. James Gerald Joyce was superintendent overseeing the excavation of the ruins of the Roman town in Silchester, Hampshire. See Earthworms, pp. 201-221.]

[CUL-DAR65.109-111_001]

(Woodcut 12) [Earthworms, Fig. 13, p. 212: Section of the subsided floor of a room, paved with tesserae, at Silchester. Scale 1/40.]

no writing

[annotated sketch] Silchester

The distance from wall to wall is made 18' 4" as Horace makes it

The curve of pavement at end (a) is drawn from the wall to 1 ft distance by eye. At end (a) is known within 4" of wall. Measurements checked.

Reduced 1/40

[CUL-DAR65.109-111_002]

(South) Fig. 13 [Earthworms, Fig. 14, p. 214: A north and south section through the subsided floor of a corridor, paved with tesseræ. Outside the broken-down bounding walls, the excavated ground on each side is shown for a short space. Nature of the ground beneath the tesseræ unknown. Silchester. Scale 1/36.]

Mould dark shading as in other cuts.

Mould with many stones, but too many stones here introduced.

I think the oblique line to signify nature unknown, ought to be closer together

(North)

Mould, shaded to match

shaded to match opposite side

N. B. Section to end when I have drawn pencil line & 2 old buried walls to go to bottom

No writing on cut

Scale 1/36 all checked.

[CUL-DAR65.109-111_003]

Woodcut 14 (Fig. G.) [Earthworms, Fig. 15, p. 216: Section of the subsided floor, paved with tessarae, and of the broken-down bounding walls of a room at Silchester, which had been formerly enlarged, with the foundations of the old wall left buried. Scale 1/40.]

Pavement of small tiles to be engraved as in fig. 12.

Silchester — Section [4 lines illeg]

This horizontal line must be introduced had better be dotted.

Remains of old wall

to be engraved as in fig. 12

All measurements checked Scale 1/40

[CUL-DAR65.112]

Ch I

I never saw two tracks or one & from the same burrow; nor is it likely that a worm rather light & with walk only could find it way back to its burrow, often having once left it. Apparently they know their burrows or a voyager of discovery & thus stock new stations.

[CUL-DAR65.113]

Gardeners Chronicle 1854 on treading important signs for grasses — bears on path across Heaths p 619 Ch I?

[1854. James Buckman. Notes on experiments in the garden of the Royal Agricultural College. Gardeners' Chronicle (23 September): 619.]

[CUL-DAR65.114]

The mean weight of 11 rather old & not large, subsided castings ejected on an inclined surface (at an angle only of 9° 26') & found while in doubt a good deal of the fresh earth had been washed away, that weighed 308 [over] 437 grams, nearly 3/4 of oz

328 wd be the 3/4 of oz

(Give in Decimal of oz)

Keep for Chap II

[CUL-DAR65.115]

p. 33. Ch 2. After ants dgm

Mr. Fabre in his interesting Souvenirs Entomologiques stated that a Sphex, — an insect belonging to same highly endowed order with ants — usually drags to its by the antennæ a kind of grasshopper after paralyzing it. Now when Mr. Fabre cut off the antennæ Palpi, the sphex had not the sense to drag the insect by one its legs & gave up the task as hopeless. So again when Mr Fabre removed the palpi grasshopper from the cell, the Sphex chew it up because there was papæ at 2 [2 words illeg] that she now just enters it & must have perceived that her prey was gone.

(B) cobra-snake was wiser than the above Sphex, for after they swallowed a toad within a narrow hole, he could not withdraw his head & disgorged it. The toad began to crawl away; it was again swallowed & again disgorged, but now the [several words excised] Sphex, had learnt a lesson

[Earthworms, p. 93, note on Fabre: "See his interesting work, 'Souvenirs entomologiques,' 1879, p. 168-177."]

[CUL-DAR65.116]

(Argue under Digestion — They endlessly swallow vast numbers of glass beads or bits of broken glass & bits of tile on purpose — for as have been known sense of taste& then give summary of numbers of objects in gizzard but very often also in intestine)

Rose-thorn — bits of glass — flint often stones & bits of brick often angular & rough.

& rough bits of cinders

All this have been covered over in Ch IV

[CUL-DAR65.119]

Summary of contents of gizzard (used)

Stones 22 Sand 3 Concretion 2 000 119

22 [+] 3 [+] 2 [+] 11 [=] 38 worms with gizzard opened

From here see that in 38 worms, the gizzards of worms were opened 22 containing small stones, 3 many grains of sand — 2 colour concretions — milky 27 — & 11 had no hard substance in gizzard.

[CUL-DAR65.120]

Under digestion do not give case of 2 gizzards & moniliform. gizzard or any particular about living instances or transverse view (I have not done so)

[CUL-DAR65.121]

Frank

Proc. Linn. Soc. XI Megasolex [Megascolex] Sanctae-Helenæ in the St Helena Isld

[Journal of the Linnean Society: Zoology, vol. 11: 96. Description of a new species of earthworm by W. Baird.]

(Novara Voyage shelf 109)

p 37 of my M.S.

Slice Ivy leaf

Trypsin — Salycilic acid.

Frank Pamphlet glands of Phaseolus

[CUL-DAR65.122]

Hensen p. 364 doubt from chemical reasons about worms getting food out of Humus — minute egg & microscopical organism — Utricularia in earth

[Victor Hensen. 1877. Die Thätigkeit des Regenwürms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) für die Fruchtbarkeit des Erdbodens. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie, vol. 28: 354-364.]

[CUL-DAR65.123]

n 19th Century p. 325 [*] quotes from Von Hensen about tubes lined with little pebbles & Husks of seeds. I must find the

Habits

p 356 good Hensen [illeg] Red

[* Anon. 1877. T.H. Huxley. Recent science. Nineteenth Century, vol. 2(September: 309-328.)]

[CUL-DAR65.124_001]

In order to find out something about the intelligence of such lowly organised creatures as worms — whether all their actions were guided by a blind impulsive instinct, it appeared to me admirable to observe the manner in which they draw varying shaped leaves & other objects into the mouth of their burrows — The recent new leaves are pushed in only the outside. It is obvious that they planted each of the leaf wd be easiest to drag in, more especially often the mouth was already well packed, & when the passage wd be only as wide as attenuated body of the dragging worm — This gives evidence of apex — But how would they paper with leaves

[CUL-DAR65.124_002]

of which the 2 about equally pointed —Laburnum

The same rule, with petioles of Clematis as parted end obviously easiest drawn in. Petioles of ash + Robinia — Leaves of Pinus — Stones — Objects of drawing in.

[CUL-DAR65.125]

In 2 burrows 27 had been drawn in, & of these 21 had been drawn in by apex, & only 6 by base. In the [11 words illeg] one way, to

This petiole had been drawn in a day from [illeg] on even ground & the apex must have been obvious only from [5 words illeg]

[CUL-DAR65.128]

(a) Mr Farrer was struck with the pertinacity with which they reopened the old burrows & the position of such open burrows to the casting was always large, allowing new [excrement] were much or little. I have often observed the same fact in the autumn, & I believe

[3 lines uncertain order] larger pebbles

with grains of sand & small stones on the field& other objects. It is to such open burrows that worms often drag in leaves

Show Support my statement that

Shows this burrow kept open, independently other ejection of the castings — probably for the sake of drawing in leaves)

(Keep for Habits)

[CUL-DAR65.132]

17 petioles of Clematis dragged into one hole & 10 into another

[CUL-DAR65.133]

Add to leaves blackened by digestive fluid Ivy leaves when stain such as grain wood

Add to when I say cannot grow larger than all Ivy leaves from plants growing against walls.

[CUL-DAR64.2.78-80_001]

Nov 15 1877

1 Chedworth

[Notes by Francis Darwin:]

Remains discovered in 1866 & I think excavated then. There are steep banks round 3 sides of the place & the woman in charge speaks of a good deal of dirt being washed down in storms.

The walls have remarkably level tops, but they have been covered by little roofs of tiles to protect them so this does not go for much:

We first examined Room A which has a fine pavement of tesseræ over hypocaust, layer of concrete which roofs the cavity of the hypocaust is 8 in thick

His pavement is protected by a roof: no worms come through as far as we saw. The pavement is level except for some bulgings which correspond with the position of a big tree which grew in the middle of the pavement

The bath room B has a pavement over hypocaust: an old stump of a tree has been left growing on a low party wall to show the extent to which the remains were covered by soil. The vertical distance from the pavement to the bottom of the stump is 3'-4"

The room marked P has a pavement of tesseræ & is over hypocaust as proved by the wall flues. the pavement is not exposed, having been covered up with a layer of soil to protect it & is now grown over with turf. The pavement must have been destroyed in places as we came down on the pink concrete at once. In one such place the thickness of turf was 1 1/2" inches. A worm hole was found paving the level of their upper surface. Found a worm coiled up 3 1/2" below where the floor level seemed to be, this level had to be grassed, as the tesseræ were gone & the worm was in rotten concrete. There was no sag in this floor. Very few worm castings on the grass.

[CUL-DAR64.2.78-80_002]

2

At D is a hypocaust room which originally consisted of a floor supported on stone pillars arranged n rows. The flooring has all gone & the bottom on which the pillars rest is grass grown, & has worms now working in it. The woman says that the cavity of the hypocaust was empty when the remains were discovered: she says the rabbits get into the hypocausts.

In the present kitchen garden at about the pen & ink mark * is a Roman wall which the antiquarians think was the wall surrounding the villa garden. The upper surface of the wall is just below the present surface of the soil butt the line of the wall, is visible running for a few feet E & W. The wall is 13" thick & we found by digging that is only 8" deep. We dug down at the side of the wall into yellowish clay with lumps of oolite, & then scooped away the soil right under the wall. Found a large worm distinctly under the wall at a depth of 13 inches from the upper surface of the wall: also another worm at 12 inches deep under the wall. Found about this level and in the soil at the side of the wall a large beetle = = grub & a cockchafer apparently hibernating. A few inches deeper again, found 3 big worms in the soil at the side of the wall.

Dug another hole close by the side one of the partition walls of one of rooms near R. I think there must have been a floor as there was a ledge on the wall corresponding roughly to the level of a pavement next-door, but there were no tesseræ where we dug. We dug down 2' 6" from the level of the upper surface of the soil which rest on the ledge of the wall, but could not get to the foundation

[CUL-DAR64.2.78-80_003]

3

as there were hardly any worms it was not worth while going deeper.

There is a wall running along (about like the line S — S) on the very edge of the wood; the soil has been cleared away from the side of the wall nearest to the external wall of the rooms R &c, but the side nearest the wood has not been exposed & the soil on the top has evidently not been disturbed as hazel trees grow on it now. Moreover the men who dug for us said it not been disturbed much. There was about 5 inches of black mould with a few stones in it probably worm mould or leaf mould on the top of the wall. Digging down in the soil on the wood side found a bit of a pigs jaw & fragment of tile about 22" inches from the surface. This digging was continued down to the yellow clay & showed that there was a layer of 2' 2" of black mould full of stones (leaf mould?) above that clay.

[CUL-DAR64.2.81_001]

J. W. Grover "On a Roman Villa at Chedworth". Journal of the Brit. Arch. Assoc June 1866 (Fosse Bridge Inn 7 miles from Cirencester to villa 2 miles off)

Also Proc of the Soc. of antiquaries of Scotland vol VI Part II 1867 p. 278 James Farrer "Notice of recent excavation in Chedworth wood in the county of Gloucester".

"The ground has been covered with wood from time immemorial, & the underwood is felled every 20 years. No suspicion of buildings seems to have been entertained, though in some places the top stones of walls appeared, on close examination, above the surface of the ground."

- Discovered due to a gamekeeper ferreting for rabbits 2 1/4 acres already explored, but more recent discoveries in other parts of the wood. (over)

[CUL-DAR64.2.81_002]

Majority of the many coins found belong to Constans & the Constantine family & Tetricus.

[CUL-DAR64.2.25]

Journal of Geolog Soc Nov. 1877 no 132 p. 745

On the sinking of foundation of great building such as Towers by long comparison.

Discuss of sand of Ch. 2 — Specific quantity makes no difference —

Maer Leith Hill Stones (But earth raised by stones)

[Robert Mallet. 1877. On an hitherto unnoticed circumstance affecting the piling up of volcanic cones.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.12_001]

Dec 15 /77 Sandwalk pit of red argillaceous sand several worms at depth of 30 1/2

Dec 16 found some distinct worm holes slate going down at 44 1/2 inches

Dec 17 3 fine worms at depth of 45 inches. Several roots some decayed running down this depth

Dec 17 worms cut through in Hole 55 inches from surface — Bed of fine sand with much argillaceous & ferruginous matter none disturbed — few roots

(Worms) (over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.12_002]

Dec. 18th

A very large worm found at bottom of Hole 5 ft 1 inch carefully measure below surface!

[CUL-DAR63.63]

[in margin:] (Worms)

Proctor — Pleasant Ways in Science. 1879

p. 379 on accumulation of Dust, I must discuss — enormously exaggerated. Began with St Jago, & then go on to Pampas.

Finally tilled fields — bare mountains & arid countries give rise to mush dust.

I must allow [more] to dust, then I have. (old Ruin wd catch dust) — Also on Larvae of insects as well as ants.

[CUL-DAR63.64]

[calculations and illeg words] both side of valley per 70 yards

[calculations]

Therefore one cube foot of fine earth flow down the 2 sides of a valley [3 words illeg] allowed [3 words illeg] to bottom, evey year for [2 words illeg] or 5 cube feet annually for every mile in length

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR63.65_001]

The dry castings collected at Leith Hill on sq yard spread over yard wd form a larger .1524 in thickness. These dry castings weighed from a square grand weighed 7.453 pounds.

But there are so many compensations from washed crushed castings not being so compact as mould — the actual particles more compact, & expansion when moist, that I think it wd be better to go to measure, & I may safely take .2 of inches of damp mould in thickness as thrown up annually & this wd give 2 2/5 cubic inches flow per

[CUL-DAR63.65_002]

inch annually, or falling over cliff at bottom base of square yard.

At cliff at base of sloping square acre, (which is standard given in other cases). Then would fall over 4840 x 2 2/5 cubic inches, which equals square feet of mold

[CUL-DAR63.67_001]

How did George get this

7.453 lbs per square yard brought to the surface per annum

Leith Hill

& 1/3rd of this flows down 1 inch per annum

1 inch = 1/36 yd

[Therefore] 1/3 x 1/36 of 7.453 lbs is delivered across a linear yard per annum

This is 069 lbs per linear yard per annum

Hence the flow across a linear yard is 1.1 oz per annum

or wd fall over a full yr

Twice as much for 2 sides of valley

2.2 oz for 100 212 lbs

[CUL-DAR63.67_002]

[calculations, crossed]

[CUL-DAR63.68_001]

Suppose a square acre to be marked out on the sloping field then the base line marked out along the foot of the slope well be 70 yards long. The 168 cubic inches of earth will cross this base line per annum.

Generally mark a level line on the side of the hill of given length (say a yard) estimate how much earth crosses that line per annum.

[CUL-DAR63.68_002]

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

arrangement of Plate IV

[CUL-DAR63.83]

Jan 18 1880

Fine rain at first & afterwards for worms there cd be more furrows at a a c than elsewhere & though more worms & consequently Earth brought often to surface & contributed

(N. B. von Hensen calculation of weight of excrement & quantity sections which passes through worms stomach annually & all this well triturated) & so now from lawn that some particles flow down surface [illeg] ? which wd be called level. Though the slope of basal part of mound wd not be so much loosened as might at first be expected, & to find really wd be

[Darwin cited information from Prof. von Hensen, 'Zeitschrift für wissenschaft. Zoologie,' B. xxviii. 1877, throughout Earthworms.]

[CUL-DAR63.84]

"Crown & furrow" when land somewhat [illeg] - very ancient practice in [illeg] to let the superficial water to run off into the furrows from which it is redirected by proper channels into the ditches.

Penny Encyclop.

From furrow to furrow [distance of] about 8 ft

[CUL-DAR63.85]

Furrowed fields

As worms abound as on Lawn Chalk in their layer of mould — it may be that after furrow partially filled up worms there bring up more fine Earth & this consequently gets washed away & renewed more than that on the convex parts, & this wd keep the land long-furrowed — and much old ploughed land many holes have been completely smoothed.—

[CUL-DAR63.86]

I have made an unfortunate omission in my pages of enquiry. When I ask whether the ridge & furrow supposing them to have [illeg] down a slope are as distant at the base as at the top, I ought to have added after the word bottom, where to the slope becomes level or nearly level.

[CUL-DAR63.88]

I suppose many burial mounds are more than 2000 years old.

7 inches small amount to be thrown up; therefore

7 / 2002 = 286

14

60

56

42

42

0

12/286 23 [ft] , 10 [in] — nearly 24 ft in thickness there

24

46

36

10

The upper few [c. 7 words illeg]

A slight steep cone wd invariably be cemented into a lower barren greatly sloping mound. Some washed — wd be washed

[CUL-DAR63.89]

When I refer to Elie de B. under tumuli — add

Much information is given on the subject by him but apparently no reaction made — & then in * add, after reference

"I have reason to believe that much of the discussion on the high antiquity & permanence of mould, adduced as an evidence against denudation, has been inserted owing to my paper in the Geological Transaction, which was read by before the publication of the Leçons.

[Cited in Earthworms, p. 2: Elie de Beaumont, "'Leçons de Géologie Pratique,' tom. i. 1845, p. 140."]

[CUL-DAR63.92]

R. Wedgwood cd detect or hear of no evidence furrowed land changing. — believed to be very ancient

Letters from 2 farmers that no difference in distinctness of furrow in upper & lower part of slopes — & a strong belief that the crown & furrows last for generations.

N. Wales — field ploughed 50 or 60 years ago; in furrows at top of slope mould 2 1/2 & at bottom 4 1/2 — furrows moderately inclined for [allowing] 1/2 inch more on ridges than in furrow Many tried of the latter point.

In a field ploughed about 65 years before with furrows running down slope — furrows at top 4 1/2 inches deep & at the bottom when they have nearly disappeared only 1 inch.

The slope of the field was 15° facing N. E — furrows 7 ft apart. The depth of furrow or level grow above the slope 4 to 3 1/2 deep. On another slope 80 years ago of 15° facing S. W. furrows scarcely perceptible at base but on level ground

[CUL-DAR63.92v]

2

at base same furrows 3 1/4 & 2 1/2 deep — On another short slope of 10°, furrows at top 3 1/2, at the bottom 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 deep)

(Leith Hill field not ploughed for at least 24 years.

Slope moderate

Depth of furrow at LH before much slope	Depth of middle of slope	Length of bottom of slope	Furrow 1
4	3 3/4	3 1/4
3 8/11 near flat/	3 3/4	4	2
*4 — near top
top 3 1/2	0	3	3
near top 3
top 4
top of slope 3	0	3	4
14°		13 1/4 less deep at bottom

h

[CUL-DAR63.94]

3)

Barlaston — pasture from name for almost certainly 169 years

(about 80 years ago when wheat very dear) partly only field ploughed

field ploughed about 50 years ago — Frank says by eye no difference in depth of furrows at bottom & top of slopes — in the field measured, on averages of 6 measurement over the furrows actually 3/4 of inch deeper!

Field near Leaves Green depth of mould soil in furrow on average (rough measurement) 5 inches — on ridges 3 1/2 inches when there was a slope — when field level, difference 4 & 3 1/2 — furrows parallel to hill of village.

Depth of furrows — nothing can be made out

William near Stonehenge in Salisbury 6 miles from Stonehenge — furrow at top 5 inches deep near bottom 3 1/4 — ridge of facing at bottom time immemorial. slope 7° at top, at 11° or 12 & the top

Near Beaulieu — furrow slope in steepest part & summit sloped up in lower part — slope only 2° or 3°

Stonehenge 3/4 of [miles] furrow [vanished] at base of slope — great slope 8° to 10°

Deeper when slope through mid view — standing near base of slope or furrows time immemorial

[CUL-DAR65.47-48_001]

March 19 1880

(1)

A few days ago 2 larger pots were filled with earth with some gravel atop, & with porous net tied over, & then left out of door, so as to be cold at nigh through radiation. — Once with 3 or 4 worms from under threes of Pinus austriaca & nigricans. & the other with same no of worms from Potato field far from any sp. of Pinus Leaves of other fir & of P. sylvestris over surface —

Fir-Pot March 19th 1 leaves of Scotch-fir drawn in by base

21st 3 long & 3 short all by base

24h 6 long leaves by base

Ap. 2d 1 long by base

[total] 10

(Used)

Potato-field Pot on March 20th 1 scotch fir drawn in by base

21st 2 long & 2 short all by base

24 3 long leaves by base

25th 1 long by base

6+10=16

[CUL-DAR65.47-48_002]

Pots out of doors covered with net

Ap. 13 7 long leaves all drawn by vase into same burrow — Potato field

Ap 16 6 long leaves all drawn in by base in Potato field

3 drawn in by Pine-tree Pot

Ap 17 3 drawn in by base Potato Pot

20 5 drawn in by base Pine-tree pot

24th 1 do do Potato Pot

26 9 do do Pine-tree Pot

34 total

Ap. 28 more all by base

Ap. 30 13

56 Total to be ass to my total

Ap. 30 In all 4 Pots I cut off tips of leaves for about 1 inch of apices.

May 1st 24 drawn in by base, none by ant. tips.

2d 15 do do do

6 8 do do do

7 3 do do do

9th 4 do do do

11th 2

12 1

[total] 57

[CUL-DAR65.47-48_003]

March 23 I scattered many long leaves of Pinus austriaca & nigricans near mouths of burrow, having pulled out [stuffing], in place far from where Pine-tree have ever grown.

March 24 — Lawn behind House. 1 drawn in by base

do under Beech tree 11 -do-

Dr. under Horse-chesnut 4 -do-

End of K. Garden under wall 13 do do

[total] 29 by base (Used)

Here one other with coloured needles drawn in very short distance by tip.

March 25th Behind House under Trees 4 Ivy leaves by Base

Sand walk 4 do

K. Garden 1

[total] 5 + 29 = 34 (& 6 in pots) = 40)

April 24th 8 pine-leaves with nothing done to them drawn in by base; only drawn in very little way by apex. (I must add the 2 exceptional coming to total & then say with 2 exceptional as the 2 needle coloured.)

Ap 25th 3 pine leaves drawn in by base

26 1 do do do

27 6 do do do

28th 10 do do

29 21 do do

May 4 1 2

Total 50 + old former numbers intesl + the 2 opposite red line

[CUL-DAR63.60]

May 1 1880 Geolog. Journal

Sorby on Bearing on Worms

[Henry Clifton Sorby is cited in Earthworms, pp. 257-258: "Anniversary Address: 'The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Soc.' May 1880, p. 59."]

Disintegration

p 47 48 59 — the most important 65.

[CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_001]

Jun 17th 1880

Wormoscope

(1)

11.45 a.m put 1 gigantic & 1 small worm in — can travel quickly backwards — doubled on themselves in space — Left them for 20' & both buried — The big one kept anus point level of Earth & retracted it when touched.

The potting-earth would consist of sand mixed with loam or decayed turf — decayed leaves & a little peat. (When I give them leaves put glass beads block out with [illeg] & crush them on surface for chance of being swallowed, as penetrating do stones)

19th come during night to surface no castings

Jun 21 noon. Large worm in large pot with pressed down fine damp ferruginous sand. — added a 2d worm

10˚ P.m — Many have yet difficulty in penetrating the sand & only slightly after some hours on margin of pot. I saw one ejecting excrement — This done by spurts, & care taken this done all round, so that makes a sort of coating all round — The smaller worm has buried itself

[The "wormoscope" was called the "wormograph" in a letter from Francis Darwin to Darwin [28 October 1877?]. This is a reference to what is now so famous to visitors to Down House, the wormstone."

[CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_002]

Jun 22d 1880

Used

(2)

10˚a.m the big worm now ejecting yellow sand, showing that burrowing by eating sand.

12˚ big worm has not yet buried itself.-

1˚ still 1.6 inch of worm in arch above surface.

1.40' quite disappeared

23d 8˚a.m — largish lump of pure sand casting same spot.

25th 12˚ sq. piece of Burdock & 6 black beads laid in sand.

28th at 10˚P.m drawn into hole — next morning apparently much gnawed & torn — beads not swallowed.-

29th 7˚45' a.m added square of 1/2 dried Burdock, 2 do leaves of Heartease & flower peduncle.

July 15th at 10˚P.m saw large worm pulling withered leaf of cabbage — the attenuated apex when applied closely to surface suddenly became broad, I presume by retraction of apex. Once when it suddenly let go, I distinctly saw that the apex there consisted of deep cut [sketch]

It is odd how worm knew night & day & they do as they come out only at night & yet pots keep all day before N.E window covered by plates of glass & then by sheet of black paper. Light of candle does not disturb them in the least.

[CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_003]

July 16th 1880

Worms First Pot (sand)

(3)

saw worms in both pots at night (moves in day) drawing leaves of cabbage & raspberry towards holes — Ant. extremity in contact seem always truncated, & when they let hold & could not drag the object further, I saw that bits of the leaf had been drawn into hollow cone at extremity. As they become attached to a leaf, the anterior part swelled, probably due to pharynx advancing.

A very slight cap to pot is transmitted through the earth & causes them to withdraw. When glass plate lifted very gently off pot, in 3 or 4 seconds they generally withdraw instantly & this must have been due to the sensation of dryer air, or odour in the room.

July 17th. It is, I think a mistake about many lifting off the glass, but they are certainly very sensitive to a slight puff

[CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_004]

(4)

of air from one's mouth, even through very narrow crack between glass-plate & rim of Pot. — I doubt whether odour of human breath, because gentle breathing does not affect them. They [sensitive] like flash of lighting —they seem to move whether ante end of body as a feeler. (I saw them feeding a cabbage leaf, & the end of body was not then applied transversely truncated, but the extreme tip seemed folded over on lower side, as Morren describes. They have gnawed away large spaces between lateral ribs of cabbage — leaf, which they seem much to like. When one was dragging cabbage leaf to its burrow attached to under side, I saw leaf rendered conical or pitted, by suction of ant. end of body attached to the lower side. End of cabbage leaf dragged partly into hole not blackened.

[Darwin cited C. F. Morren, De Lumbrici terrestris, 1829, throughout Earthworms.]

July 20th Pieces of cabbage-leaf dragged in hole 3 1/4 inches folded, not blackened, very humid does not affect Litmus or Turmeric — gnawed — ribs left, surface in parts

[CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_005]

(5) removed, except epidermis — fragments torn quite off. —ash-leaf blackened & ivy leaf both gnawed — but I think cabbage most popular. I saw worm draw to hole ash leaflet did this by letting apex into mouth by aid of upper tip.

[CUL-DAR65.1.001]

Jun 18 1880

Notes — Worms

(a) on shaded walk Sand-walk — a spiraling of leaves irregularly drawn into burrow - [partially] gnawed some leaves of ash gnawed quite green — leaves blown off by gales — very little castings at mouth of the burrows as if worms knew what they intended to do — but no other castings on walk. — very few castings on lawn.

July 15 I see a few castings on lawn.

16th In sand walk found green Elm leaf crushed in hole — upper part out of hole (very damp weather) quite green — part crushed in hole, so dark brown, as to be almost black, with veins reddish — must be due to some secretion — traces of same action in another leaf of a different plant. — at now washed leaves & put under bell glass over water with vessel damp — air very damp to see about decay. Rotting

(Back)

[CUL-DAR65.1.002]

The 2 Lime leaves have been left in water since 5˚ P.m.

July 16th to see about rotting

Aug. 3d 8˚ a.m I think the 2 lime leaves are more rotted when they had been moistened by worms; but I can perceive no other difference in them in damp air.

Aug 29th — I can perceive no difference in the rotting of the Lime leaves; nor in the Oak leaves — If there is any difference it must be quite insignificant —

Sept 9th no difference, threw away.

(My pots covered with glass-Plates, so air beneath damp, before N.E window, so not bright light & for several days covered with black paper & yet came to surface only at night — Inherited habit, but surprising that they shd have retained habit during many days.

To avoid enemies — copulation.

[CUL-DAR65.1.003]

July 17th

B)

examined 2 Lime leaves still green which had been partly drawn into holes in orchard, & this part dark brown. Lines of separation very distinct. Nearer 2 inch object glass, as transparent object, the change of colour depends, in commencing, in the veins (or fibrous where tissue) becoming a dull dark reddish orange. In same parts the cells with chlorophyll, united of appearing as a uniform green sheet or moss are permeated by numerous points of light, due either to contraction of parts protoplasm, or the same cells being emptied. Soon the green colour became paler or duller & ultimately disappear in parts rendered very brown. The surface is, also, covered with little dark brown specks — The action apparently commences in the change of colour in the veins.

[See Earthworms, p. 20.]

Then frayed the leaves so as to see cells in interior & veins & all above said is supported.

Got F. [Frank] to make section & see result. —

Apparently the fluid which acts travels along fibro-vascular bundles

[CUL-DAR64.1.13]

[June-August 1880]

Worms — Second Pots

June 24 — 4° 20' P.m — 2 worms earth garden — mould passed down & well damaged.

4° 23' both on surface both disappeared except just tail at 58' (ie in 15') on borders of pot

Aug 6 last night twice worms started back when candle first brought to them, I must make this point stronger — first give general conduct & then these exceptional cases. I am sure no vibrations.

[CUL-DAR64.2.94]

[June? 1880]

[Note by George Darwin]

Pine trypsin (not thrypsin) not procurable. Kühne probably the only man who ever had it & it wd cost about £3 a gramme. Will send you tomorrow some stuff which is almost all trypsin out of wh. Lea makes pancreatic ferment.

Horace better but still in bed with sore throat.

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_001]

[21 June-11.August 1880]

5)

Smell

Tried breathing gently on worms with mans breath & with cotton wool with mille-fleur perfume, & little acetic acid & tobacco chewed in my mouth; but it was the smaller worm not so sensitive & timid as the older one.

Jul 21 — I tried holding with pincers dab of cotton wool soaked with saliva & afterwards with mille-fleur near them, but produced no effect.

Current of air

So might it certainly seemed that removing glass-plate suddenly, though without any jar caused them to

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_002]

6)

retract suddenly; but certainly glass can be removed quietly without any effect; does it cause current. They were very sensitive this evening — even gentlest breathing excited them.

As Hoffmeister says 2 ant segments sensitive to Light. I tried repeatedly suddenly illuminating & darkening them, when hands free, & never coz effects — also held candle for some time Light before them. But this was done with glass plate over pot so no current existed: I also tried occasionally with glass-plate removed no effect except over. Hoffmeister was aware of currents. What he says about exposure to light for some time being necessary makes me doubt — which can very perplexing seem good observer.

[See Earthworms, p. 20.]

Aug 8th I see that glass-plates almost flat & cast bright spot on earth when candle moved about

Therefore tried 4

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_003]

Light

times by concentrating light with Bull's-eye on [anterior] extremity of worms & they dashed in, but failed once. This is Pot 2. with smaller worms — In Pot 1 with larger worms feeding the bulls-eye seemed to produce no effect.

Aug 9th tried several times with the Lens acted over failed for some time, but young worm was eating. Is it necessary that light shd strike worms in some particular direction or must the rings be stretched out & thus made translucent?

10th Again last night the worms, especially the smaller ones, dashed back from light of lens; but they did not always act there when feeding or dragging leaves to holes, even in the short intervals of their work — when their ant. extremity was free.

11th I have now repeatedly found that light from bull's eye causes sudden retraction; but if worm eating or dragging does not act — It is only illumination of ant. extremity which acts.

It does not depend on extension of ant. rings — I cannot account for occasional failure, or occasional action of candle without lens. Lens acts rather more frequently on the smaller worms in Pot 2 than on those in Pot. 1.

[in margin:] Similar observation on night of 12th

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_004]

July 22

7)

3 grains of starch removed & am almost sure 2 before: I saw worm trying to swallow one pellet, which had angles rounded by fluid from mouth; the worm then dragged grain into burrow

23° on Pot 2, 2 bits & in Pot 1 3 bits of starch have all disappeared

(see Back)

(I held bit of cotton-wool with paraffin within 2 or 3 inches of — worm no effect)

Smell

Jul 21st night — Placed paraffin lamp with green glass removed between the 2 pots — light dazzling — the worm did not notice it, but after about 10 min all retired into holes — after 30 m all still in holes except 1 which had come out. At 9° 30' P. 2 Took away lamp; at 10 P.m all still remain in holes except 1 — Brought back lamp at 10° 30 & at 10° 45' all retied into holes 15' — at 11° still in holes. Hoffmeister correct Light affects nearer collar sufficient to tell them day from night

July 22d — Placed writing bright porcelain lamp without globe between the 2 pots at 7° 30' P.m — at 8° 40' one small worm partially

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_005]

July 23d

[7v]

Pot 1 Bit of starch & 3 of whiting in both pots: in no. 2 all 4 have disappeared & in the other not one!

I am quite doubtful, for I found one of old bits of starch dragged into burrow & apparently not gnawed. — Evidence worth nothing about starch.

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_006]

8)

Light

out of burrow — 9° 20' P.m other worm gone & in Pot a large worm with head out of burrow.

9° 40' & 10° P.m all worms in burrows for last fortnight. I have looked many times at pots & never saw such a case. — At 10° Lamp removed, but at 10° 50' still all in burrow; yet they came out later in night in both & eat up starch & dragged 1 leaf to hole. (It is the lowest grade of vision, if it can e so called, which have been observed.)

July 23 8° 23' P.m — 3 worms out in the 2 Pots put lamp without globe. 8° 36' all in holes — Took away lamp.

9° 1' P.m 3 worms out put lamp again

9 11' all 3 in holes except just tips of heads of one.

They retire very gradually, throwing themselves about as if they felt something disagreeable

9. 12' removed lamp —

9° 30' one out in each pot & brought back Lamp, but made little jar

9.45 big worm in — small worm out but under leaf — removed Lamp.

10.6 one worm well out in each Pot — brought back lamp

(In Pot I the worms have left hole altogether & is

[CUL-DAR64.1.16-20_007]

9) crawling about) At 10° 25' the first worm has crawled into strong hole as far as it could & 2d worm has quite disappeared. On morning of 24th the freely crawling worm has gone back into burrow.

[CUL-DAR65.7_002]

Jul 30 tried again whistling into metal whistle with great power — no trace of effect — went on tugging at raw meat.

[CUL-DAR65.8]

Aug. 5 [1880]

Glass-Beads

found in a casting one of black glass-beads abt 1 1/2 m.m, in length & breadth — inside of tube packed with sand — could see no clear difference in the polish of its surface — What object cd worm have for swallowing it? It was on pot with nothing but fine sand.

July 24th I began putting 5 glass beads on July 24th & on pot with sand repeated this several times & on the next day most or all removed — on 28th 5 Beads & 5 fragments of blue glass — 29th all gone — put same again, on 30th all gone — put same again on Aug 1 all gone.

[CUL-DAR65.7_001]

Aug 6th 1880 saw worms depositing castings by a peristaltic movement — They were not deposited by chance on one side but all round orifice.

[CUL-DAR63.47]

Oct 2d 80/

Examined specimens of Brick-castings sent yesterday by Farrer — Those on surface of road are almost or quite as well rounded as those [taken] out of castings, but many of them only have passed through intestine of worms during last 5 or 6 years — I suppose that particles in a moss crushed by wheels &c &c have angles broken off, & then a little rolling wd round them. The comparison was made with the castings on border of road, & now covered with a little mould & turf — see I of Farmers' folio list.

The best cases of rounding (see 2 & 3 pill-boxes & Farmers list) are those from over gravel-walk & over hole in field, but then it is possible that the brick rubbish before being here placed was much walked over — Viz in [illeg] that all bits shd have been then rounded — It may be that worm select rounded bits; but this is opposed by shape of fragment in worms' gizzards. — Bit of mortar are especially well rounded. The fragment of concretion from castings on floor of Roman villa (no. 4 of Farmers' list) show the same or rather greater amt of attrition. I still believe in attributing worms, but cannot be sure without seeing that by round fragments given them.

[CUL-DAR63.39-40_001]

Oct. 11th 1880

1)

(Action of Gizzard — worms)

Castings from gravel-walk at Abinger — gravel over broken bricks & mortar — many bits of mortar, proved by acid — about 1/2 of them certainly appear rounded, especially one bit adhering to grains of quantity, & in the bits of mortar there is particle of brick, which certainly seem rounded — In case of mortar may be dissolution, but then why not other particles? I think rounded by worm gizzard.

Farrer & Horace collected castings on Farm road made with brick-rubbish.

Castings red, but this may have been due to original dust & ponding of casts. — Many particle seem to me distinctly rounded & very different from the rounded brick, which I formerly examined. They differ, however, in the rounding, as might have been expected as some may not be long retained in intestinal canal. It is possible that some fragments may have adhered externally to castings, but I extracted 4 (2 of which well rounded) one of unbroken pellets, or distinct castings.

[insertion:] of those examined & sent to Sorby

Size varied from 3 to 1 mm. in longer diameter; but one was 3 1/2 mm in diameter — Endless minute particles.

(over)

[CUL-DAR63.39-40_002]

Brick or Tiles K. garden

not rounded

rounded 1 2

Cinder

not rounded 2 [total] 2

rounded 1 1 2 2 [total] 6

[CUL-DAR63.39-40_003]

2)

The fine dust from dry castings consists chiefly of grain of silex, others coated with red or endless particles of brick. — The finest dust, after all broken off glass slide — largely particles of Brick

Oct 19 [1880]

Disintegration of fragments [found] by [Francis] in gizzard — near Hot-house when bits of brick & scum:

(1) watch-glass, 2 bits of flint, one of coal & one scoriæ — not rounded; but eyes seem not fresh, a little blunted one of quartz about 1 mm across — other quartz many 2. mm long (along a bit of brick — I think certainly brick but yellowish — when broken — [considerably] rounded.

(2) watch-glass bit of flint & scoriæ — & 2 very hard spherical concretion of carbonate of Lime — The scoria was chiefly rounded, lost

(3) 2 flint & coal & soft cinder — Edge blunted — most particles less than 1 mm.

(4) 3 of flint — one with Edges not blunted — 1 of stone above 2 mm & 2 apparently tiles (with Edges a good deal rounded — I think tile, but yellowish)

(5) 1 bit of flint Edge slippery rounded, other bit lost.

(6) 2 of cinder decidedly rounded — 3 of flint of which only one with Edges decidedly a little rounded.

(7) rose-thorn — 2 of cinders 1/2 rounded — 4 of flint, one of which with Edge hardly at all blunted, 2 partly well rounded. From intestine of same worm, 3 of coal or cinders — 1 of flint & 1 of mortar, little well rounded — others in same state as those in gizzards

The number of bits of cinder — soft stone & brick come as if the worms produced softish substances, yet a good many bits of flint

[CUL-DAR63.42_001]

16 Oct 1880

1)

was the brick rubbish from a new building, or from an old building whist being pulled down?

[Farrer:] From the old house at Abinger

{Newer gneiss all relate to the first lot of castings from road}

2) How many years ago was the rubbish laid down on the road?

[Farrer:] About seven years ago

3) Is the subsoil of a red colour? For if not the colour of the castings must be due to brick-dust.

[Farrer:] No the subsoil is sand or sandy coloured not red

4) Was care taken that the castings alone were picked up, and not particles lying loose in the road?

[Farrer:] yes carefully picked up by Horace Darwin in my presence

5) Were there many castings on the road?

[Farrer:] Yes a good many especially at the Edges & not in the middle

6) Could you ascertain (as I much wish to know) how thick the layer of brick rubbish is on the road?

[Farrer:] Originally 4 to 6 inches. Now worm in the centre to 2 or 3: but the castings were taken from the sides & when it is still 4 to 6 inches

Please see over

[CUL-DAR63.42_002]

I do not think the particles of brick could have been rolled about by the wind. The rubbish was laid seven years ago on a much used farm road: on a sandy bottom: about 6 inches thick. It soon became a compact moss; the centre of the road being much used by carts. But did the cart wheels break up and round the particles? I think not: they would squeeze but scarcely rub them. The former castings were taken from the side of the road. Today 16 October I have collected some more from the grass on the margin 18 inches or more from where the cart wheels now go: & where the brick rubbish is covered with grass & a little mould. The brick rubbish here is 5 or 6 inches deep with turf at the top.

I send by parcel four specimens of castings.

1. Those from the margin of the brick road above mentioned. These are full of brick particles.

2. A large quantity collected from the walks near the house in a great no of places. In all these walks there is about 6 inches of brick rubbish -sometimes less under 4 to 6 inches of gravel -partly chalk gravel -partly sandstone gravel from Wotton. I can see no brick particles in this. The bricks were put down as they came from the old house in large bits & so I think they lie now

3. A small quantity from the top of a heap of brick rubbish slid into a hole in this field. It is now covered at the top with grass

4 A small quantity from the concrete -Room no 1. of the Roman villa. The concrete is much broken by frost & covered with vegetation, & the worm workings are not so easy to see as they were

T H Farrer

16 Oct/ 80

[Thomas Henry Farrer, former civil servant, and later 1st Baron Farrer, sometimes assisted Darwin with his researches.]

[CUL-DAR63.43-46_001]

1880 Oct 17

1)

Frank Dissection of Gizzard

(1) Two stones, and a bit of black gritty stuff looking like coal, and the rounded thing, O every seed

(2) Two flat flake like bits one whitish, the other slate (?) & some scraps of cinder

(3) Three stones, two of them 1 millimeter in diameter the other smaller; also a lump of cinder (?)

Good sized bits of leaf in the gizzards

In the intestine stones also found: and bits of tile not round (-specimens in watch glass with a bit of red blotting paper)

[CUL-DAR63.43-46_002]

Oct 18 [1880]

2)

Dissection gizzard

The first two I cut the gizzard free from the intestine before opening the gizzard, so that there could be no regurgitation of stones from the intestine to the gizzard in dissecting. In one of these I noticed casually that the matter in the pharynx was free from stones; but I did not make this out with absolute certainty.

(4) In one of these the gizzard and pharynx together contained two large stones one of which jumped away out of the forceps — watch glass i

(5) The other contained 4 small stones, a bit of coal, & a rounded gritty hard mar [marl?] looking like cinders but with grains of sand adhering & projecting — watch glass ii

[CUL-DAR63.43-46_003]

There are in pot 3; The stones from gizzard are in a little heap by themselves in watch glass 3 Those from intestine in all un-numbered watch glass.

[CUL-DAR63.43-46_004]

3)

(6) In another worm I carefully cut open the pharynx first & found only one very small stone in a good deal of pulpy matter. In the gizzard, 7 "stones", one being very minute, & one of some black substance & one minute bit of brick, & a rose thorn

In the whole rest of the intestine were 3 big "stones", (two of which were close to the gizzard) 4 minute O things two of which are certainly bits of coal — The part of the intestine which contained any food was not quite up to the tail, but very nearly so.

In this worm I unfortunately did not cut off the gizzard from the intestine; I am as nearly certain I can be that the stones were all actually in the gizzard.

[CUL-DAR63.43-46_005]

Oct 20th

4)

Worms

(7) Gizzard no stones

(8)

(8) Two small stones, a bit of cinder & a bit of tile or brick in gizzard. No stones in the pharynx — Watch glass ii

Edges of brick not at all or very little mould — cinder equally doubtful.

[CUL-DAR63.49]

Dec 6 80

It is impossible to doubt that the bits of brick or tiles from the Abinger Roman villa have been greatly rounded.

The bits from over hole in field over all more or less rounded- It is scarcely credible that there shd have been such rounding by accident before the brick rubbish was laid on ground.

(On the other Hand

(Six bits of Verandah tiles from gizzard & intestine of seven worms in 2 Pots with Earth & no leaves — show very little attrition — perhaps some of the smaller ones show more attrition than the fouled particles commonly show.)

(the bits of brick from under Walnut tree at Down — show very little attrition, some show none whatever & others doubtful.)

Stones from gizzard. Frank Oct. 18th — 2 bits of brick sharp & flint — sharp — some bits of [illeg] seen rounded.

(Pot I. Nov. 6. 2 bits of rounded tiles from intestine are not at all rounded — one perhaps rounded)

(Nov. 4. 2 tiles I think not rounded — 4 concretions — smaller ones crystallized & not rounded — larger ones look rounded — gizzards of tape worms.)

(Nov. 6 — 2 tiles & 2 concretions not rounded — gizzard

(Chalk field, bits of chalk & 1 concretion seem rounded.

[CUL-DAR63.50]

[Brading, Isle of Wight]

Dec 17 1880

Brading castings

Have washed & examined 4 castings from many particles of old mortar & apparently fine cement & of brick or tiles. The vast majority of them seem plainly worn when looked at with naked eye or strong lens.

The fragment of mortar may have been corroded by acid & carbonic & there is in some degree probable, as grain [projected] . But this will not apply to particle of tiles — One apparent concretion in castings. It is extremely impossible that so many fragments shd have been from only rounded in matter beneath tiles — only a few angular.

The triturated particles soft & easily crushed — bright red.

(Used)

[CUL-DAR63.51]

Dec 20 [1880]

There can be no doubt about the rounding of bits of brick & mortar over hole in Field

Gravel walk 3/6 of brick clay [worms] & all bits of mortar

Roman Villa — Almost all rounded- some looked as if [casting] had been rolled about for years in a [illeg] of water or on a shore

Dec 20 — Relooked [all other] particles.

[CUL-DAR63.52]

Dec 24th 1880

The Lawn slopes towards the walk about 0°-40°

This is the rough mean of 3 measurements taken at 3 points, none of which were quite near the walk. The 3 points were selected as each having the mean slope as far as the eye could judge.

H. Darwin [Horace]

[CUL-DAR64.2.23]

[1880]

How many square feet (with a decimal) in 2ft 3 3/4 inches by inches

2 ft 3 3/4 in ? = 2.3125 ft

2 ft 3 5/8 in = 2.30208 ft

2.3125 x 2.30208 = 5.323560 sq feet = 5.3236 nearly

What is weight of 8 oz avoirdupois minus 3 drach apothecary in oz & decimal —

i.e. what decimal of 1 oz in 3 drachs apoth.

= 7.9657 ounces avoirdupois

13.47 [x] 2 [=] 26.94 [-] 26 [=] 10.94

How much for square yard, ie 9 square feet

= 13.466 ounces

[CUL-DAR64.2.90]

Weight of Castings

Nilgiris

* Biggest = 123.14 = 4.3403 avoirdupois

5 Biggest including * = 447.5 grams

447.5 [÷] 5 [=] 89.5 average 89.5 gramms oz 3.1503]

Bengal 3 Biggest = 44.85, 59.20, 44.81 grams (03 2.09)

All ie 22 including 3 biggest = 771 grams

[calculations] average 35.05 grams / = 1.2403

37.5 gr to oz

[CUL-DAR64.2.91]

[calculations]

From facts hereafter to be given are the amount of earth brought up on pasture land; I thought that when [5 words illeg] Say that I doubt Horace's observation one side is 2 or 3, & he thought some others say twice as numerous

[CUL-DAR64.2.92a-92b]

p. 28 (a) text — lead on

I have been assured by a volunteer that he has often seen many large earth-worms crawling quickly about the grass, a few minutes after his company had fired a volley with blank cartridges. The Peewit (Trigon Vanellus Linn.) seems to know instinctively that worms will emerge if the [line excised]

[92b]

hear from Mr. Moorhouse) that a young peewit kept in confinement need to stand on one leg & beat the turf with the other until the worms crawled out of their burrows, where they were instantly doomed. Nevertheless, worms do not invariably leave their burrows when the ground is made to tremble; as I know by having beaten it with a spade but perhaps it was beaten too violently.

[CUL-DAR64.1.21-22_001]

July 26th [1880]

12° 45' Saliva — Bell-glass — Lime & Elm Leaf dark green — Beech — small Hornbeam & Hazel

July 28 12° 45 Hazel, decidedly affected vein reddish & left brown & clears specks — Lime a trace of an effect — vein reddish certainly temp 66° — yesterday sky bright warm say 66°-68° or 67°

29th It is very odd what defined spaces bounded by rain are affected in hazel Temp 64°

31st 8° a.m. Hornbeam — Hazel most affected Lime moderately — Elms& beech part paler green, but veins not reddened

Examined Hazel under 2 inch — vein quite red — in parts chlorophyll seem partially removed, & everywhere trace present minute spots, in other parts chlorophyll — dark gradually brown or even brown.

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.21-22_002]

July 29th 2° 30 P.m Leaves of Lime Sage — Hazel & Elm — with tips wetted with saliva, rest wetted with water & suspended in little over water pinned to cork lid.

31st 8° a.m no effect

Aug 1 do

Aug 4th Hardly at all affected — threw away

Aug 5 Lime considerably brown vein slightly reddened — sage blackened with saliva vein reddened — Hazel brownish — Veins reddened

Hornbeam no effect

[illeg] Lime as most affected — Hazel barely — sage & Hornbeam not affected

[in margin:] Saliva

Aug 7th Lime slightly blackened vein brownish — Hazel good deal discoloured (not so much as by worms) vein reddish — discoloration chiefly between wind & water — Sage not so black as on 5th veins reddish — Hornbeam no affect.)

[in margin:] water now discoloured

Lime is much discoloured as by saliva — Hazel almost as much — Sage only exterior tip — Hornbeam of

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.21-22_003]

Aug 2d 8 a.m Beech pale green Edged with brown [illeg] wind & saliva — vein slightly pink, certainly vein affected though only slightly

Hornbeam all in [illeg] pale from [illeg] veins, which seem covered everywhere with some chlorophyll

Elm tips pale green, vein not affected.

[CUL-DAR64.1.21-22_004]

Aug 2d 12° 45 Hazel — Hornbeam Lime & 1/2 sage with tips in Saliva & in water made similar conditions

(2d Temp 81°) (Aug 3° 62°)

Aug 4th

12° 45 -Saliva — Hazel brownish — Lime pale

Water — Lime pale as most affected as by saliva

Hazel hardly at all affected.)

[CUL-DAR64.1.23]

July 27th [1880]

Vision on 2 or 3 occasions out of very numerous trials, when I suddenly illuminated worms with candle they started back, as if they saw light; & I am almost positive there was at the last jar & they were covered by glass-plates — inexplicable case)

[CUL-DAR64.1.24_001]

July 29 night of

Meat

In Pot. 2 for many hours 1 worm had almost buried in cut end of raw meat & many (20) the substance between outer surfaces seem certainly hollowed out or corroded.

The other worms were also all every attacking a bit of fat with any thickness of meat — In Pot I Big worm occasionally with head to raw meat.

July 30th all 4 worms at raw meat & fat — almost certainly the big worm pulled at raw meat & at fat with wonderful force, having drawn large pieces into the hollow retracted came at ant. end of body.

31st 8° a good deal of roast meat & fat gnawed away

31st 10° P.m — again sucking & tugging at raw meat & fat.

Aug 2d 10° P.m in 2d Pot worm at fatty roasted meat

6th The meat has been for some time 1/2 liquified & putrid & I have never seen worms go near it, so I doubt Hoffmeister, but then my evidence is not good for on 4th I put in both pots bits of fresh meat & those were not visited by worms.

Sept 9th 11h put raw meat in both pots & till 15h every night meat was used & repeatedly dragged into mouth of burrow. — certainly attentive.

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.24_002]

Mental Qualities— perhaps they have some social feeling that sometime lie in contact & are not at all afraid of other worms crawling over their bodies & Hoffmeister (?) But Hensen has never seen seven says that they lie up in winter rolled together into a ball.

Aug 28 put 1/2 dead worm on surface of both pots & both were dragged to holes — Probably cannibal.

[CUL-DAR65.7_002]

Jul 30 tried again whistling into metal whistle with great power — no trace of effect — went on tugging at raw meat.

[CUL-DAR64.1.25]

Music

July 31. — 2d Pot — (2 worms out) on Pianoforte — Emma struck C. below middle C. & both dashed into holes — Both dashed in when G. above the line was struck. [insertion:] C in the bass clef

Aug 1 one dashed in at very high rate — the other at C in the treble clef, neither above nor below the line — Played various tremendous, Pot on table near Pianoforte — not the least effect —

Aug 31 Loudest & deepest notes of Bassoon no effect

[CUL-DAR64.1.26-27_001]

Aug 27 / 80

Ivy Leaf

Looked at the track with reflected light with 4 & 5 HK but 4 shows it best. It consists of a chain of irregular often star shaped dots * as shown in fig. 1; in some cases there were not so continuous as in this one.

In a good light I made certain that the surface of the epidermis is continuous & unaltered over the marks with 4 HK the normal parts of the leaf looks when seen from above by reflected light, like a collection of minute dark circles (fig. 2) with thick walls, the thick walls being the chlorophyll lining the palisade cells where the worm-marks are, these circles have thinner & vaguer walls, no doubt because of the destruction of the chlorophyll. This is shown in the centre of the dark patch in fig. 2. By transmitted light the worn-marks are almost invisible.

Little bits of leaf containing a line of marks were used for cutting transverse sections. In these sections places were found where a few of the palisade cells & some of the underlying mesophyll cells were injured.

They either contained nothing but granules or else chlorophyll grains which has lost all colour; & other paler. — Walls of cells not broken down —

This leaf was placed on pot with worms on Aug 22d & the worm mark was observed on 26th, & when then occurred worm had left bits of sand sticking on leaf, showing that worms had crawled over leaf.

* The transverse diameter of average stars was .2mm measured with eye piece micrometer.

(Back)

[CUL-DAR64.1.26-27_002]

These immense white marks covered whole surface of 2 leaves formerly placed on sand, but now worms apparently have found out that the leaves are too stiff to attack whilst fresh, for they visit them much less.

[CUL-DAR64.1.26-27_003]

Aug 27

Ivy leaf (worms)

Fig 1 — HK 4 This is a sketch done quickly giving the general appearance, not an absolute copy

Fig 2 [sketch] rough sketch done from memory to show kind of appearance

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_001]

Sept 1 [1880]

1)

Trypsin on leaves (together with Thymol)

10° 40' a.m. Ivy — Lime & Hazel leaves with chain of dots of trypsin sol — on wet litmus paper under moistened Bell glass —

(Sept 3d 8° 10 a.m. put in fresh drops)

(1st temp of room 11°15 66°7 — 10°30 P. 2 65°)

2d 6° 50 a.m 64° — 2° 45' 66° — 10 67°)

(Sept 3d 8° 15' a.m 66°

11° 5' put tips of leaves, under Bell-glass to soak in Trypsin & in distilled water — of Lime, Hazel, Ivy, sage, Hornbeam, & Elm.

Sep 2d 7° 46' a.m. Lime immersed part pale, veins I think pinkish

Hazel — rinsed parts pale with here & there green cells — bathed margin brown. — veins I think pinkish

Hornbeam. Margin on one side brown — (other leaves unaffected part in [bottom] Hornbeam — leaf with base cut off.

Sept. 2. 2° P.m added young Lime leaf to Trypsin & to water.

(Sept 3d 8° a.m. Lime, vein certainly reddened — parts of leaf paler & parts brownish — The young leaf — part paler — what is cause?

Hazel part very brown — large parts pale green — I doubt about veins pinking — Hornbeam parts very dark .) Water no action

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_002]

Sep 3

2)

Young lime from trypsin in [solution] taken out of trypsin abt 12 noon & put on a cover glass in glycerine & water —

The chief effect is due to infiltration as was proved by comparing it with a healthy bit of the leaf boiled in glycerine & water. The contents of the cells in the trypsin piece is yellower or browner than the boiled specimen — It is almost impossible to make out the chlorophyll grains in the trypsin specn. The cells look as if filled up with a nearly homogeneous brown green mass. In the boiled one the contents have a granulated look from the chlorophyll grains being more distinct — The boiled one looked at again 2.40 pm has become about as yellow and as homogeneous as the trypsin one

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_003]

Sept 4th

3)

7° 30 a.m. — Lime — much reddened even part not immersed vein brown — fluid dreadfully putrid & turbid

Hazel part not immersed much blackened

Vein of upper blackened part more discoloured than immersed part.

Hornbeam parts blackened in upper part — last Hornbeam a little affected n one side of immersed part.

Elm square patches blackened in upper part

Sage — upper part much blackened —

Ivy alone not affected

The blackening of upper part seem to show that access of air somehow important (see p. 5 from Frank diameter of Elm leaf

Leaves in plain water not affected.

(No action from the drops on the [base] on damp paper under the Bell-glass.)

Sept 5th 8° a.m Lime leaf & sage tips affected & discoloured by plain water —

Sept 6th 8° a.m only a trifle more affected)

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_004]

Sept 5th

4)

8° a.m Ivy-leaf — When I (yesterday?) passed with pin's head & placed drop of Trypsin now brown marks. Now passed in another transfer lime parallel to last & in those lime I smoked through fine tube & then placed drops. On opposite side rubbed lime with bluntend of ivory needle & placed some trypsin on old Hazel & Lime leaf —

(also 8.15' on very old ivy leaf)

(a worm near base did not pass head)

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_005]

Sept 5th

[4v]

8° 20 put starch in not diluted trypsin not dissolved.

8° 25 — drops of trypsin on disc & on edge of Hazel & Lime, twigs standing in water under Bell-glass.)

Sept 7th 8° a.m The Lime with edge in fluid considerably discoloured, not that with fluid on disc

7th at 3° P.m — I think a close difference; but then the trypsin had gone bad & cd not act.

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_006]

Sep 4

5)

Trypsin on Sages

A piece of an old lime leaf taken out of trypsin & put in methyl spirit last night. It was cut so that it consisted of an uninjured and all injured strip side by side. It was put in a solution of Iodine & Iodine of potassium & the under surface examined & it was found that in the injured strip which had been in trypsin there was no starch and hardly any debris even in the guard-cells of the stomata while the other half which had not been in trypsin had starch in it.

Lime

Bits of the lower side of leaf which had been pulled out of a worm's burrow were put in Iodine solution & it was found that the guard cells were almost emptied of their contents & contained no starch, whereas those near the base of the lead has starch in plenty.

(The unimmersed brown parts of the elm

[CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_003]

[5v]

leaf are more opaque than the green parts this is a good deal due to little veins down to smallest ramifications being reddish brown — many of the chlorophyll & grains are stained the same colour, & in other places they are of a dark dull green

[CUL-DAR64.1.38-39_001]

Sept 11th 1880

Trypsin

At 4.30 P.m put leaves in sol. of Trypsin without Thymol — (for plain sol. of Thymol killed leaves (see Thyme leaves) in few hours, made veins reddish & upper part above immersed part blackened.) At 8° a.m

12th Hazel leaves discoloured — at 10° 30 (ie after 18h. immersion F. examined & found starch dissolved in cells round stomata in the Lime leaves — At 2° Pm Hazel leaves much discoloured — vein reddish — do cells darkened along veins above immersed part of Lime leaves [illeg] in little square petioles.

(All that I shall be able to show in that suction of worm acts like a poison & dissolves stomach — probably acts like a poison by killing protoplasm, as it dissolves fibres — all about colouring of veins & darkening of upper part, we see, goes for nothing

[CUL-DAR64.1.38-39_002]

Sept 13th

8° a.m Young cherry leaves though the not sensitive of all the Thymol not more affected by Trypsin if but [paper] than the young & old Ivy-leaves —

The fact of Trypsin acting on albumen matter & discoloring leaves (without any Thymol) is important as the killing of the protoplasm in the cells of leaves drawn into worm-hole & consequent great discoloration of leaves is explained.

[CUL-DAR64.1.40]

[13 September 1880]

Trypsin — Leaves taken out Sp 13 — 11 to 11.30 a.m

Lime {2nd basal — plenty of starch, I think everywhere

(2nd apical none)

Lime — no starch in either basal or apical part. 1 specimen of each —addedK1+1 again to both, lots of starch in base

(Normal lime — starch everywhere nourished)

Ivy starch in both about equally — I think not equal to normal leaf.

Hazel — 1st apical specimen some starch, bad specimen

1st Basal — great deal of starch gone but not all I think of these 2, there is more starch in the apical-

2nd apical — lots of starch

2nd basal very little starch

3rd apical one piece, plenty, one none

Normal leaf plenty of starch, but not every stoma has starch & some patches of stomata have less than other places.

Normal leaf 2nd specimen — Again a good many with no starch

Cherry Apical (1st specn) no starch (readded 1 do)

Basal (1st) Patches of starch & patches of none ( readded 1 do)

Basal 2nd Hardly any (readded do)

Normal — everywhere starch

(Cherry 2nd Apical No starch certainly)

Effects of artificial fermented juice or starch infers

[CUL-DAR64.1.41_001]

Sep 15/80

Worms

Lime leaf from worms burrow — The guard cells of the stomata at the base of the leaf (which is green) are all full of starch —

Those of the apex of leaf contain undoubtedly much less starch than those at the base. Those of the extra ragged bit at the apex contained no starch

Many stomata are seen with starch gone only out of one guard cell. The nucleus is still present in the cells at the base but has disappeared at the apex.

Laburnum — Transverse sections

1st apex no starch, 1st base some section starch, some none, the starch is certainly disappearing first in peripheral pallisade cells: 2nd base contains but little starch

2nd apex more starch than 1st base! — cannot make out any certain difference they both vary.

In the stomata I cannot make out a clear difference either way.

[CUL-DAR64.1.41_002]

(Starch in worm-bound leaves & other Trypsin)

[CUL-DAR64.1.34-35_001]

Sep 4th. 1880

[Notes by Francis Darwin]

Worms. Zermatt

In a bare place in fir woods rather higher up the valley than Zermatt (Zermatt is 5300 ft. above the sea) I found worm castings. Owing to the dryness of the ground and the powderiness of the castings it was difficult to be sure that they were worm castings, but in some cases I was sure, but I should like to have seen some recent ones. They seemed to be in large quantities, but of this I could not be sure, as I could recognise them only in a few cases.

[Zermatt is a resort town in southern Switzerland.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.34-35_002]

2.

This was the only place in which I found any traces. I have looked carefully in the fields. I will observe more & especially after rain. The guide evidently knew earthworms & said they existed up as high as this

[CUL-DAR64.1.36-37_001]

[Notes by Francis Darwin]

Sep 9th. 1880

Macugnaga Worms.

Macugnaga is 5115 ft. above the sea. It rained heavily last night. I found one small worm casting near here in an open place in a larch wood. Higher up the valley, 300 ft. I should say above this, I found several small castings. The castings are evidently made by a very

small worm, & were very small. I saw the tail of one of them. The hole through which the castings are made must have been about the size of a pin. I only saw one fresh casting, & altogether I found very few. Old ones are difficult to recognise, as they are very powdery.

[Macugnaga is a mountain village in northern Italy.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.36-37_002]

Sep. 12th.

Baveno

For the first two hours of our way down here from Macugnaga I looked out for worms but saw none. The fields & grass about Zermatt and Macugnaga so far as I have seen, have not that peculiar hummocky appearance, which is seen at home in fields which are habitually grazed by sheep.

[CUL-DAR64.1.14]

[1880]

1)

(Smell — soaked cotton wool in strong tobacco juice & held close to 2 worms no effect.

generally concentrated acetic acid equally inefficient, but worm twice retracted, but this may well have been that skin affected by so pungent a vapour & which (Perrier) is so astonishing a deadly a poison to them in so astonishing degree.)

[Earthworms, p. 44, note: "Perrier, 'Archives de Zoolog. expér. July, 1874, pp. 416, 419."]

[CUL-DAR65.11_001]

Sept 8th [1880]

Young Ivy leaf which was 1/2 rotten from having been kept in water now has parenchyma gnawed away on one side — Too hard for worms until rotted

Sept 19th I am now certain that they prefer greatly fresh wild cherry-leaves to those fresh of Corylus & Lime. (Used)

[CUL-DAR65.11_002]

Taste — Leaves

On July 20 placed on both Pots leaves of cabbages, horse-radish & onion; also of Thyme, mint, sage & artemisia — The 3 first attacked & more or less gnawed during several successive days up to July 26th — onion apparently most popular, the Horse-radish & then cabbage —

[These experiments are cited in Earthworms, pp. 33ff.]

26th — the 4 last narrow leaves not touched —

28th & 29th mint a little torn or gnawed Ivy not touched perhaps too tough —

Aug 7th The 4 last removed leaves not touched

Aug 11th do — 22 days

Aug 6th put fresh & 1/2 withered leaves of Turnip, cabbage & sea-kale — worms began at night to root on them; by 11th large portions removed, except sea-kale hardly touched, perhaps too tough

(Many ivy leaves placed long ago some fresh ones & some withered ones, & none have been as yet at least gnawed, though withered ones dragged to holes — bears on Ramsay's case.)

Fresh ivy leaves seen now to be touched, but when decayed leaves are drawn in holes, they are digested — vessels alone left.

[CUL-DAR64.1.15_001]

[9-28 September 1880]

2)

Power of Smell (see former notes)

Sept 9th just covered bits of raw meat with sand or earth not passed down in the 2 pots; left for 48 h. never discovered.

(Pot I fine sand — Pot II ordinary earth)

(Sept. 15 covered in same way in both pots bits of cabbage leaves — (1/2 decayed & fresh together)

Sept 17th in Pot I discovered & removed — Touch cd not possibly have come into play — now was there any hole below by which they cd have accidentally encountered fragment in coming up from beneath. They do not seem to try the earth in various places; for if they did, this wd be visible in fine sand pot: In Pot II (18th) cabbage discovered, buried on 15th)

Sept 17th Pot I Cabbage leaves buried & well watered above

— 19th Pot I slice of onion buried (25th neither discovered) (They seem to discover worm in the fine compost sand than in earth)

Sept 18 Pot II buried fresh pieces of cabbage; by 9 P.m say day discovered & removed.

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.15_002]

Smell

(Sept 19 Pot II buried slice of onion — 22° onion discovered & dragged to surface & apparently gnawed, & after another day dragged down hole beneath surface of earth.)

(Sept -23rd Pot II. first bit of onion — 25° discovered & dragged from beneath earth.

(Sept 25. Pot. II buried cabbage with tin-foil below to prevent burrowing from below — removed same night.)

Sept 26. Pot II buried cabbage in same spot over tin-foil — 27° removed also a piece not removed)

27th passed earth slightly over it & over the others & watered both, so as to prevent worms feeling the cabbage with tips of body, if by chance it pushed its tips in the place

28th a.m both these bits of cabbage food & removed

28th red cabbage in both, 30° removed in Pot 2, but not eaten

[CUL-DAR64.1.42]

Sep 21. / 80 /

12h 30 pounded with heavy spade & drove it into turf & then rocked it, in many places on Lawn near recent castings & in field not one worm emerged!

[CUL-DAR64.1.43-45_001]

Sep 22

Worms

specimens almost decolorised in alcohol

Hazel leaf dragged in — no starch at either the part which has been in or the other

Ash 3 leaves almost decolorised in alcohol. The apex had been dragged in — On first looking the stomata cells at apex looked quite emptied out but in one set of specimens after boiling in glycerine & caustic potash starch became visible — In another set this did not produce any effect. The guard cells at the base of the leaf were not nearly so much emptied of contents but did not stain purple well.

Sp 23 yellow fallen filbert leaf (not in alcohol) shavings from lower epidermis boiled in dilute glycerine — Plenty of starch in guard cells.

Green filbert leaf fallen from tree from orchard — boiled in glyce hardly any starch

Another leaf rather hard to stain but after time all stomata fairly full

[CUL-DAR64.1.43-45_002]

Sep 24th 9am — Lime leaves which had been buried in damp earth since 4pm Sep 15. Neither old nor young discoloured — They were examined without being put in alcohol, simply boiled in dilute glycerine & lots of starch in all guard-cells in both leaves

Another pair, old & young, buried at same time in the sand pot are much discoloured. The young one quite brown & rotten coming to pieces at a touch. The older one black & yellow in patches & with mold appearing

The green parts have lots of starch. But many stomata in the blackened parts have none.

Laburnum in sand at same time — Leaf quite green except on dead place in middle

Green fresh part does not contain full amount of starch.

Mere burying in earth does not place any [2 words illeg]

[CUL-DAR64.1.43-45_003]

Sep 24

[in margin:] All these boiled in dil glycerine + 1 + K1 used

Now got some lime leaves which had been naturally dragged into holes under the lime trees.

1) Much eaten, not browned but fairly green everywhere. Lots of starch in part dragged in & in part above ground — No difference between the two parts. This was not a slimy leaf.

2) Much eaten, slimy, & transparent not browned

First set of specimens from a slimy part had almost if not quite the normal amount of starch in the guard-cells. Second & 3rd set from the extreme apex where it had been much eaten, showed a distinct dissolution in the amount of starch, some guard cells quite empty & some with only traces, many others with clearly diminished starch

3) Large leaf nearly all dragged in, much eaten & slimy nearly all over. The slimy parts are very tender & easily torn but not transparent or discoloured. The stomata undoubtedly contain much less than the normal amount of starch. At extreme base a little dry place contains about normal amount of starch.

[CUL-DAR65.12_001]

Sep 24th [1880]

Fir Leaves Drawn into Holes

a large majority of small leaves drawn into holes by their tips & pointed end wd manifestly go easiest into hole — a few tracings — & a large maple leaf by base — But pins of Pinus invariably not by tips but by base as 2 or more of the needle colour & diverge & cd not otherwise be drawn in — To this sense or necessity — does worm first try by apical of needles?

I have now looked at many a score of tufts of Pines-leaves — no exception — perhaps posterior end pricklier then noses. They must be dragged in by either end — but if so the above move nearer then I shd have expected, for worms to try the other end.

25th Have examined ends no trace of gnawing & ends well adapted for discovery, as concentric with central knob — or simple knob — good as proof of by draw in are same

[CUL-DAR65.12_002]

principle as stones or bits of stick.

Examined, for comparison leaves of P. austriaca & nigricans which had fallen near by & had not been dragged into worm-holes. — I have now examined these fallen leaves, & both the few of disarticulated surfaces found exactly like those long in mouths of burrow latter certainly not gnawed.

(Sept 30th found cherry in Pot smeared with very wet sand, not alkaline or acid — state artificial trypsin was washed)

[CUL-DAR64.1.46_001]

Sep 24th 1880

pulled 14 leaves of various kinds which had been dragged by tips into worm holes & placed under bell-glass on very damp earth & occasionally sprinkled with water.

On Oct 24th examined them. There was no difference or extremely little in state of decay of tips & basal parts.

[CUL-DAR64.1.46_002]

Sept 25

I think origin of Habit of [2 words illeg] with their digestive fluid was that they oftener drag dried decayed leaves than fresh ones, & it wd be absolutely necessary that this shd be softened in order to be gnawed & if they were partly digested by the softening process, it wd be a clear advantage to the worms.)

[CUL-DAR64.1.47]

Sep 24th /80/

I judge that worms fear from comparison with higher animals; as a friend remarked who saw their manner of retract when they felt a vibration — "They dash into their holes just like rabbits" — It is an argument that this retract is not a simple reflex action, that when eating they either do not perceive light, or pleasure in eating overcome their fear. In either cases we have I think some evidence of consciousness. — Sexual passion will also keep them out of their holes, Mr Hoffmeister says they [3 words illeg] after it is light, which no other excitement will do.

[CUL-DAR65.13]

Sept 27 [1880]

Worms perceived light from Lens when immersed in water in [several words illeg]

(Dragged by sucking piece of onion beneath water

29th dragged from beneath water the bit of onion & carried it down burrow)

On one occasion worm in water did not perceive red bright petals at distant which felt warm to hand — Another worm did feel it & dashed into hole

1 fell & dashed in

Another felt the heat & withdraw, but not very sensitive — not so sensitive to light

1 fell & withdraw but not very quickly

1 did not withdraw

Another did not withdraw

Twice again perceived heat [illeg] & withdrawing but I certainly think not so sensitive to it

2 withdraw quickly

[total] 5

[CUL-DAR65.14]

Sept 28th [1880]

Habits

I record in my notes on Sept 28 that near Down hundreds on hundreds of fresh castings, which from being almost black, have certainly not been brought up from a depth are now daily brought to the surface, & yet not a leaf having been drawn into their burrows near Hedge near Sand-walk

[CUL-DAR64.1.48-49_001]

Sept. 30th [1880]

1)

3 slips of red and common cabbage in both Pots: -

Oct I Pot I 2 greens & no red down into Hole. Pot II 3 green & no red down in — "They even seem suspicious" (5)

Oct 1 square piece of quite chewed fish placed in both Pots

(2) 7th in Pot 2 green cabbage little meat eaten

9th Green alone gnawed slight in both Pots

9th Fresh leaves placed

(1) 11th Pot 1 more than thrice as much green as of (pickling) red C. eaten.

12th In both Pots green all many gnawed

(1) red not at all, but than red less decayed.

12. Red cabbage [soon] to be yellow — less decayed red & fresh green.

13th Pot I fresh green alone gnawed — in Pot. 2 a little of fresh green, most of yellow-red gnawed.

[CUL-DAR64.1.48-49_002]

Pot 2 — a little green in both gnawed not all yellow, [illeg] I suppose down under earth.

16 put fresh young leaves in both [many words illeg]

18 In both Pots [illeg] of green eaten & [illeg]

1) Green eaten more favourable then Red

2) 21 Pot 2 both very little gnawed [illeg] moist

22 Pot 2 red alone very little gnawed — in Pot I Green alone very little gnawed.

24 In both Pots [5 words illeg]

25 Pot I red much most gnawed.

[CUL-DAR65.15-16_001]

Oct 3d 1880 — Filled box (inch by inch) with very fine ferruginous sand — dampened it [illeg] quite still down pencil down middle (roofed hole with bits of grass) & put on hole to dry.

Oct 5 8˚a.m thoroughly dried — cannot pass pencil down — does inside contract first or these set & resist? Give I 5 oz of water & left till after 2˚P.m more damp & then put again before fire — A very little water down pipe.

Oct 7th repeated process

9th do — The pen-holder will pass down both holes but not the original pencil — Do not regard mouth of burrow, for I stopped with blotting paper to prevent water flowing down.

Oct 11th Process repeated

15 do do

17th do do

19th do do

21st do do — In the mica calcareous argillaceous moss the pen-holder will not go — In the other it will go down, but hole is evidently much smaller than when made with pencil.

[CUL-DAR65.15-16_002]

Oct 23d Repeated process — 25th do — 27th do Nov 5 do — Nov 7 do.

I can make out nothing certainly, as matter has flowed down holes; but I think that sand contracted a little — I must trust the general reasoning.

[CUL-DAR64.1.50_001]

Oct 3d 80

ordinarily worms do not leave altogether holes (except sick ones) but there have been some walk of dry weather & yesterday there were torrents of rain, & early this morning the walks wherever part allowed of tracks being left, were covered almost everywhere by tracks; so that 5 tracks crossed space of about one inch square — no dead worms about — They sometimes spread & stock new places — (I must comment what I have said at Abinger & that the now migration to a space where the whole of the humus had been removed)

Farrer says something about tracks & I speak of them at border of trench.

[CUL-DAR64.1.50_002]

Oct 7th

[2 lines illeg]

last night being warm rain thru morning — many trenches [few words illeg] 3d, observed in all places

Oct 10th Very heavy rain last night some tracks, I observed [illeg] from 15 gorse along walks

[line illeg]

[CUL-DAR64.1.50_003]

Judging from perfection of tracks they must have been made during or after the rain had ended & walks out note the layer of mud or fine sand — Truly [3 words illeg] drowned out — Probably former

Oct 7th last night being warm rain & this morning many tracks not so many as on 3d, observed in all places

Oct 10 Very heavy rain last night some tracks, I traced & observed for 15 yards along walk

Worms seem the surface to experience when heeded my [2 words illeg] surface

[CUL-DAR64.1.51_001]

Oct 15/ 80

Worms (not on Heaths)

On Keston Common in the triangle between the Hayes & Keston-Mark roads, & north of the path that runs across from Holwood & wicket is a high bit of land covered with heath the ground amongst the heath being quite covered with lichen; I walked carefully over this place & also pulled up the heath & looked among the roots, & saw no trace of worms. The Holwood path divides the lower part of this bit of common into two regions, the S being chiefly gorse & fern with grass & having worm castings, the north region being the pure heath & lichen region. There is grass on both borders of the path in this part, & worm castings on both borders.

But higher up the heath vegetation is on both sides of the path & here there are no worms on the grass edging. In another place there is gorse-fern-grass vegetation in the damp bottom of the valley, & heath on the sides of the valley, & a little glade 20-25 yards long went running up into the heath; this glade had grass, fern, broom, gorse brambles, a few flowers & very little heath & was about a yard wide. It was a little lóngue of land which ought to have yielded worms running up into the worm-less vegetation. I hunted it carefully & found no castings but found them directly towards bottom of the valley at the base of the glade.

In Hayes Common where it was burnt the heath is a good deal mixed with gorse & there is much moss but not lichen; there were no worms neither on common itself or grass borders to paths. As you walk over towards Baston it gets more grassy & ferny, & at last I found one casting on the grass border of the path I infer this land filled for Heath, whether

[CUL-DAR64.1.51_002]

becoming heath from being trampled on grass is not better for worms. — nor is fibrous great at Abinger whole generally produces Heath.

[CUL-DAR65.42]

Very clean looking chalk from the deepest part of chalk pit between Holwood & Leve's Green 20 or 30 feet below surface —

Chalk — 46.39 grams, residue 0.27 gramms

[calculations] = 0.6 per cent

Abinger

Two samples of chalk from close below surface — (Laura Forster)

I crumbly and reddish in colour

chalk = 39.57 gramms residue 1.45

[calculations] = 3.7 per cent

Abinger

II Cleaner looking hard chalk

Chalk = 43.24; Residue = 1.19

[calculations] = 2.8 per cent

Explain thickness of mould on plains near Stonehenge

Fissures may do much. Horace Brighton

Pot at Down — open

[CUL-DAR65.17-18_001]

Oct 7th 1880

Worms dragging in leaves

To day in different places I looked at 260 leaves of various kinds which had been dragged into mouth of burrows — of these 202 had been dragged in by apex or near apex; so that the footstalk of leaf stood nearly upright at mouth of burrow — only 29 had been dragged in by base & 29 viz per cent about transversely. Of Lime leaves 55 had been dragged in by tips, 3 by the base viz 3/58 & 12 transversely. Of Laburnum leaves 21 had been dragged in by the tip, 9 by the base & 3 transversely a large proportion had been dragged in by base viz 9/30. Many so that per cent had been drawn in by the base. Now there is remarkably little difference both the tip & base of laburnum leaves, in the majority of cases more whatever, (in the time for which the buried leaves had fallen) as could be

[CUL-DAR65.17-18_002]

told by doubling the leaves on themselves. When other was any difference the basal end a little narrower than the apical end & therefore better fitted for being dragged into the holes.

[in margin:] except with coniferæ

— It would appear that the worms (3) judge chiefly, but not exclusively by the absence of the footstalk & seize the leaves by the apex or near the apex, as aided

I have seen the worms doing in confinement say they could not have been guided by shape of leaf, but by presence of base of footstalk. This is probably the rule, except with coniferæ

Worms pile many dead leaves over their burrows which are not dragged into mouth — whether this is for a roof, like stones — or are as store of food — I do not know.

(almost all with a few exceptions, chiefly ash-leaflet of the 260 leaves were brown & decayed leaves, several of which had been much gnawed by worms.

[CUL-DAR65.17-18_003]

Leaves of Scotch-fir — same rule as Pinus austriaca & nigricans; in latter leaves of much greater length — They form in mouth of burrow, with sharp points outwards a crumpled chevaux de frise. Lime leaves immensely broader at base, the apex being acuminated

I cannot observe any symmetry in the folding of the drawn in leaves — drawn in one after the other by the apex then got crumbled & folded together. Big & tender leaves are sometimes split & half or a portion only drawn in.

[CUL-DAR65.17-18_004]

All this shows more sense or intent ie. inherited habit these could have been anticipated in each lowly organised creatures.

[CUL-DAR65.19]

Oct 8th 1880

I found on perpendicular edges of turf to gravel walk, mouths of burrows with which many live — needles had been drawn. These holes could have been very little liable to be flooded with rain water.

[CUL-DAR65.20-21_001]

Oct 8th 1880

Rt hand worm

(1)

Saw him drag several near the hole by the middle & try to get them in by the doubling them. I could see the mouth swell up into a lump I think he succeeded in getting them into the mouth of the burrow

Saw him seize 3 by the bases, he seemed to come across the base in the course of his circumnutation & then I fancied he seemed satisfied & gave a big pull in towards the hole one needle would not come, the other two went right in — He completely swallowed the burnt end of one. I saw him seize hold of the sharp end of a needle & then leave go.

[CUL-DAR65.20-21_002]

Oct 8th 1880

(2)

Left hand worm, reared himself up & seized the base of one whose apex was partly in his hole, he gave a strong pull & got the base at last to the beginning of the burrow doubling the needle somewhat

Saw a Rt hand worm swallow the base of a needle & then wave his head about for some seconds & then reject it. The Left worms seem less sensitive to yellow light, I watched them for some time with a taper

Oct 9th one drawn in by apex with other worm outside. Is Scotch-fir endemic in S. England? The above worm collected out of mould near formation & at apparent end of K. Garden, so may have learnt —

On 2 days pulled at leaves out of burrows on walk & each time on pulling many very many stuck again into burrows — very industrious.

(At present, considering all sorts of leaves I think worms by touch, judge of general shape & act accordingly so as to draw them in easiest ways into burrows.)

(A very young worm as those of fir [illeg] burrow in one of my pots, dragged a Scotch-fir leave as long as its own body.)

Oct 11th, saw worm seize hold of burnt end of pair of needles going near the hole & jerk it rapidly into burrow & it seemed to know that it was a proper position to go in. Removed similar seen.

[CUL-DAR65.22]

October 11 1880

Laburnum leaves

40 pulled out of burrows

21+25 embedded by tips = 46 by tip

9+11 by bases = 20 by base

3+4 transversely = 7

73 total (not considered in the all 227. Add these 40 to the 260 before given, & especially add to Laburnum result

In giving general results say (excluding Laburnum eaves) for reason as so many by tips, base & transversely. Then give Laburnum as & then coniferæ

[CUL-DAR65.23]

Oct 12 1880

(3)

Taste Scotch fir leaves — chevaux de frise

Scotch-fir leaves Red light — new Lantern

Two dragged in determined manner out of those was not seized quite by base. One was in "earth" pot & he did not emerge afterwards. Saw one seize a needle by very near the base mouth chew it a good deal & half drag his body in, & then drop it. Saw one take hold of a sharp end & drop it. Saw another ditto. Several got hold of the middle of a needle but gave no pull. Saw a strong pull made & saw it was the blunt end he had hold of but I did not see him seize it. He failed at the mouth of the burrow to get it in owing to other needles in the way. Saw one strong pull made holding onto middle of needle. Saw a strong pull made at a needle held by base he left go just as he got it into the mouth of his burrow, & then seized it again by base & pulled it in.

[CUL-DAR64.1.52]

Oct 16 1880

picked up Maple leaf which had been dragged into hole & terminal part moist & blackened

[CUL-DAR65.118]

Oct 20th 1880

Gizzard of Worms

I found to day embedded in castings in sand

Pot I 2 of the Black glass — beads (with inside packed with sand) & a fragment of blue glass — This proves that worms both hard objects — incredible, considering proved powers of taste, that they mistook them for food. These beads show no signs of abrasion.

(N.B. In Ch IV I have discussed pretty fully about the sucking of stones) I have only just alluded to stones in gizzard in Ch I.

[CUL-DAR65.9_001]

Oct 20th 1880

Tiles in Gizzard

Pot III. 10.30' a.m — Pot full of mud from pond & ferruginous sand no or extremely few stones passed down, very damp — 6 worms put in — on surface much broken red tiles, hard, from verandah. Some of the same but kept in tin Box — for comparison.

11˚10 a.m every worm has disappeared & burrowed itself except just tip of tail of 2 of them. Gave them leaves of green & Red cabbage, turnip — carrot, celery beet & cherry, all rather oldish leaves

Oct 21st 8˚a.m tips of carrot leaf drawn in much blackened or browned — cherry a little gnawed — This blackening must have occurred in abt 12 h

22 carrot & cherry still favourite, but very little acted on.

25th Taste of all leaves carrots most preferred & next cherry

Nov 8th all leaves removed

Nov 10th many bits of tile in castings — These present exactly same appearance as washed fragments — not at all rounded — nor discoloured. Do they swallow them mainly to carry them down, or may they do some attrition without being rounded.

Nov. 18th many bits of tiles, quite red, in castings & bits of stone — on bit of tile was above 3 mm long & above 2 mm in length; not in the least discoloured. — One worm had evidently picked up much red dust from pounded tiles, so that castings was reddish & it (over)

[CUL-DAR65.9_002]

& it contained an unusual number of bits of tiles. None of them showed any trituration. These worms were feeding on earth for they had no leaves & these make the facts of 100 very little stones in castings that more interesting.

Nov 22d broke earth in Pots to pieces — astonishing number of large bits of tiles in holes — some on sides & some embedded quite many dragged down by mainly adhering to worm bodies — quite red. (N.B. kept bits of verandah tiles for several days in acetic acid as red as ever & not corroded also some five leaves dragged far down; but not lining holes neatly.

Nov. 23d — 3 worms examined — 3 minute with gizzards almost empty atoms of tiles in the gizzards of 2 other empty. — 2 other worms had many grains of sand & some small stones in them, but very little vegetable matter or even in one 3 stones of tiles & a concretion, which certainly seem worn. These tiles all tiles red — particles do not appear more worn than the standard bits of tiles which had been washed & then dried

Gizzard particles preserved.

25 examined 2 more worms- much sand & some little stones (& 1 concretion in both — in one 2 atoms of tiles. red.

Trituration.

[CUL-DAR64.1.53_001]

Oct 21 [1880]

Burdock leaf eaten (This is abstract of some other paper)

Oct 21. tips 1 carrot leaves drawn in & almost blackened or browned — next day — most have removed in about 12 hrs

Of green & red cabbage, turnip, celery, beet & cherry — of these carrot (1) & wild cherry (2) preferred

Leaves discoloured

Grass-leaf

Carrot

Celery

Cabbage (numerous 1/2 decayed) — but the latter often not affected & appeared not even fermented by juice

Turnip

Maple-leaf- out of doors

out of door

Lime

Elm Ivy

[CUL-DAR64.1.53_002]

Leaves which had been drawn into burrows at some unknown interval period & which were very [illeg] & that only a trace exhibited a trace of alkaline reaction.

[CUL-DAR64.1.54_001]

Oct 23d 80

Coloured lights

Before previous day & night — do not come out if Lamp kept near.

I tried on one worm, blue & red lights, I perceive no difference, but this worm was not very sensitive. Some nights ago I tried green light & worm long remained out of holes when thus illuminated. I may say their sensitiveness depend on intensity of light — red light not affected- single small candle generally withstand for 5 to 15 minutes, but occasionally dashed in — with same candle & bull's eye almost always dashed in, but occasionally withstand it, & generally withstand it if employed — how this does not look like reflex action when suddenly withdrawing & feeling diffuse ganglia & muscles enlarged. We see with of the higher animals. That the same cause sometimes frighten them & sometimes not & we attribute the actions there existed to the state of the animals mind in instance a Horse or on own minds — degrees of attention or will we call nervousness; & we are then led to attribute to worms some deeper mind like our own

[in margin:] in a startled or excited form of mind

[CUL-DAR64.1.54_002]

I tried again with green light, no influence.

[CUL-DAR64.1.55]

[Abstract of Hoffmeister, Familie der Regenwürmer, 1845.]

Hoffmeister Light

a great abstract — "great sensitiveness to light" within certain time respond- act as if withdrawing — Then dash into holes- some squirm — others instantly — very few no signs of sensitiveness — & then copulating — The latter only seldom affected by light.

If light once being perceived effect withdrawing it do not stop action -

Only 2 front rings sensitive cerebral ganglia— post. end protected will bear nearest approach of flame- turn from sun-light into water

[CUL-DAR64.1.56]

Oct 24th 80

Last night light frost & day previous 24h very much rain — yesterday walks were rolled & I see few tracks on gravel-walks showing that worm had been out, & some of the tracks of considerable length — only 1 dead worm seen.

[CUL-DAR65.24]

Oct 24/80

Folding of drawn in Leaves

Looked under Limes & drew out few tufts found from 2 to 9 leaves drawn in. The central leaves are usually the most crumpled, as if the exterior ones had subsequently have drawn in & had passed & crumpled the more central ones. But the exterior ones are often crumpled. When a large heap has been drawn in, the worms often make fresh superficial burrow close to main one & draw in leaves, so as to add to the Heap.

[CUL-DAR65.26]

Oct 25/80/

It is all nonsense about worms often coming up out of burrows when land disturbed, though they occasionally & rarely do so — I know by trial by digging — The number of worms in K. G is surprising — I see that in land where have been dug only a few months ago — no castings, but infinitely many open burrows — with all of the higher anywhere one wd think for breathing — not protected by stones or leaves — but surface was naked & so perhaps cd collect nothing Habits

[CUL-DAR65.10]

Oct 25 80

Pot IV Habits

Leaf-mould & red fine sand mixed & well pressed down with bits of red verandah tiles on surface — 3 largish worms & 1 youngish put in at 4˚P.m., in 35' all but tail of one disappeared.

Nov 7th removed leaves — Worms from further end of K. Garden

Nov. 25th — a good many fir-leaves drawn far down holes by base — very many bits of tiles carried down — many of holes partially lined with bits of decayed leaves — I can see endless pellets of castings on walls of burrows — no doubt it is these which many cause lining of tubes — (4 worms dissolved — only 1 bit of tile in gizzard of one — a dozen or 2 bits in intestines of several (preserved) all red, though they must have swallowed some leave-mould.)

Nov. 27 examined bits of tiles from gizzard (from intestines) of worms in Pot III & IV under walk compound — no clear evidence of trituration — certainly offer none — but apparently some in smallest particles — Perhaps each fragment, but kept long enough in gizzard.

Trituration

[CUL-DAR65.35]

[November 1880]

Worms from further end of K Garden omitting Pot IV in which tips had cut off [kitchen garden]

Drawn in by base 1 [+] 2 [+] 2 [+] 1 [+] 1 [+] 2 [=] 9

Drawn in by tip 1 [+] 1 [+] 1 [+] 3 [+] 1 [=] 7

Pot IV with tips cut off

By base 8 [+] 2 [+] 1 [+] 1 [+] 2 [+] 2 [+] 1 [=] 17 [+] 9 [=] 26

By tips 2 [+] 2 [+] 2 [+] 1 [+] 1 [+] 1 [=] 9 [+] 7 [=] 16

(Several drag in only little way)

[CUL-DAR65.27-28_001]

Nov 4 1880

Instincts Lining Burrows

large Pot I all with fine sand — large worms put in

This day turned pot I upside down & dissolved the sand — in 2 castings at mouth, 3 of the black glass beads in each no signs of attrition. Very many black beads & 2 bits of blue glass in all parts of sand, near walls of burrows ie in castings — The burrows lined with castings, but the lining differ only in the red colour of the sand (ie the oxide of iron) having been almost wholly dissolved (as happens under peats &c) & slightly tinted with dark (see Back). (Used) But here comes the curious point — one of the burrows was lined for a length of 6 3/4 inch, & to a vertical depth of 5 inches in a slightly curved line running somewhat obliquely down into sand with the leaves of Scot-fir where consist of pair of needles.

(Length from mouth of burrow to end of in nearest leaf 7 1/2 inches.) These had of course all been drawn in by the basal ends where the 2 needles are united — Internally the needles were in parts clear &

[CUL-DAR65.27-28_002]

(2)

polished; the needles almost surrounded the whole burrow; there were also many black beads struck into intestines between the needles. There is probably new intuitive action developed — at least no such case recorded by Hensen, Hoffmeister or Morren. — for it differs from those drawn into mouth to stop up holes & for food. As they could not line burrows [in margin:] no with smooth castings they have taken the three small fir-leaves only one burrow lined with fir-leaves.

Leave decay all round — where sand was removed cd not when all with basal end of doublet downwards. The sharp tips were plastered to the walls, if they had projected wd have formed as internal chevaux de frise & presented worms travelling down the burrow. It is very odd the swallowing of black beads — cannot be mistaken for food & not one was found in gizzard.

[CUL-DAR65.27-28_003]

I must say that beads in lining sand in all parts of burrows, but I may admit that stones chiefly in chambers at base of burrows, though I found no such chambers in my pot of sand — almost all the beads are so closely packed internally with sand that not simply dragged down by mouth, but first swallowed. I have now compared under microscope the sand lining the burrows & this contain a multitude of grains of silex with every trace of the oxide of iron removed — whereas this is same with showing few grains of sand which has not passed through intestine. These contrast is [everywhere] considerable — One spherical concretion of C. of Lime in the "lining sand." (Used)

[CUL-DAR65.27-28_004]

Nov 5 Pot with common earth — Tube lined much by very large worm 8 1/4 inches in length, running transversely, with obliquely round outside of pot & only extending 3 1/2 inches in depth — lined with leaves of fir — all with blunt end downwards & with many fragments of leaves — not a single point of leaves projected inwards — worm rested in part on middle portion of these leaves; decayed fragments of other leaves or on plastered castings. Burrow continued beyond the lined parts.

(Another burrow slightly sinuous, extending down 4 inches — small worm. Lined with bits of decayed leaves — many black beads & surrounded by fir-leaves — all as above — also bits of the broken verandah tiles — I think these must seem to present too close contact with dry soil. (I saw here & there the little beads of casting in mouth of burrows described by Hensen. — The whole mass of earth penetrated by burrows.)

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_001]

Nov 4 1880

1)

3

Tame Worms

In Pot I sand with some bits of Verandah Tiles lately given them.

1) only one big rounded object concretion in the gizzard and pharynx together -Two bits of leaves (?)

(The larger concretion seem to be containing worn or dissolved almost smooth — for there are [some] slight hollows between bases of what were projecting crystals. The appearance is not of subsequently deposited concentric layers)

2 One big concretion in the gizzard, and 3 smaller ones either in gizzard or very beginning of intestine I cannot say which.

3) Two bits of tiles, with a lot of leaves The bits of tiles are not rounded, but are of a yellowish colour I cannot doubt from the action of digestive fluid or puric &c acids in intestinal canal, on same principle that grain of sand discoloured, & all the softer parts of the tile, (together with mechanical agitation) have those been removed & thus the light fragments have a corroded instead of worn appearance

Nov 9th 1880

(4) worm, killed by chloroform, (dissected by self) from near Hedge sand-walk — gizzard full of crumbled leaves & 2 specimen of same plant — shows how hard living made & infinitude of grain of sand, from extreme minuteness to 1/3 or 1/2 mm in diameter — some larger stones in intestine with 1/2 digested matter & few grains of sand — but in one part of intestine many grains of sand — part of content of intestine blackish. Contents of intest. canal — near anus, in middle & near gizzard all acid, but I am not sure the juice of body not acid

(5 & 6) Nov. 18th 2 large worms from sand-walk, killed by chloroform — in earth in gizzard or close to it, many grains of sand & some small stones.)

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_002]

Nov. 6. 1880

2)

Tame Worms being kept in study in Pot with common garden mold & plenty of leaves given them.)

(1) Gizzard full of leaves but no stones or concretions in it; The gizzard was cut off from the intestine before opening it

It seems to me there is a piece of intestine between the true gizzard & the glandular walled intestine. In this place I found one small tile-bit. In the true intestine, near the beginning a large bit & lower down some bits entangled in leaf-particles.

Contents of intestine yellow from decayed cabbage & containing quantities of remains of leaves. These 3 bits of tile from intestine the same yellowish colour; & corroded or pitted appearance as those before observed

(2) 3 concretions and a bit of tile in muscular gizzard; the bit of brick was crunched by the scissors — & I believe cut in half the other half being in the their walled part of gizzard with one more concretion (put near edge of pot)

(see back)

(3) Small worm — minute bit of coal no stones or concretions in gizzard, or in a good piece of intestine examined —

(4) Do. do two minute bits of coal put in pot 3 — Intestine not examined

(5) Do Do no coal even: opened intestine near anus where the contents looked brown, & found fine pulpy

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_003]

3 cases of discoloured tile

(3) The tile as before — The 4 concretions — 3 extremely minute — all crystallized with crystal projecting.

(4) Coal not a bit removed

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_004]

3)

Worm gizzard stones in

(5) worm from same place as (4) — in gizzard packed with bits of leaves no stone, but some grains of sand — may be accidental — close beneath gizzard in canal a beautiful concretion. Oesophagus also packed with bits of leaves — I saw no grains of sands contents slightly acidic — contents of gizzard & upper part of intestine plainly acid.

The milky fluid in glands before gizzard consist of millions of spheres of C. of Lime, rapidly dissolved by acetic acid. When do concretion form.

Nov 10th

(6) Worm from same place much vegetable matter in gizzard & many grains of silex, bot no stones.

(N.B. The secretion or excretion of so much lime makes one think of the practice of farmers in giving quick lime (?)to peaty soil — if quick lime cases not analogous.)

Nov 12

(7) Worm K. Garden [illeg] gizzard with bits of green veg. matter & several small stones (& bit of coal) — one stone above 2.mm across — 2 fragments, apparently of concretions, dissolved very slowly in acetic acid & when oxalic acid added white precipitate

Nov 12 W. K. Garden — in ant. small calc. gland on one side filled entirely together with neck with hard crystalline mass, so as when found was flask shaped — in opposite side the calc. concretion was simply oval — appeared some C. of Lime & effervesced in acetic acid neutralized with ammonia & then with oxalic acid large white precipitate. (see Back/ (a))

Concretions structure of

In the posterior glands only pulpy matter with infinitude of spheres, very little acted on by acetic acid! (& one small hard mass which was acted on by acetic acid, but I saw no effervescence) do the little spheres did disappear but not very slowly, probably likely coasted with organic matter (over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_005]

(a) The solution of both concretion gave white precipitate with oxalic acid

Then 2 concretions when dissolved in acetic acid left a mass of organic tissue retaining form of concretion; in one which had become dry & was redissolved there were here & there traces of little spheres as in the lime-milk of posterior glands. The concretion in acid which had not become dry, was not wholly dissolved — here was much tissue & an infinitude of spheres, & oval bodies, like those in lime-milk: I have now added more acetic acid to see if these bodies will dissolve & they have all dissolved with effervescence. — In act of dissolving they become more transparent.

(Can the crystalline masses in ant. gland serve to carry the lime to posterior part of alimentary canal?

towards circumference, with a slightly opake centre. I observed this in the milk of lime. The nature ultimately mysterious & disappears. When a crystal is formed the calc. matter must pass out of sphere so as to unite. The oval bodies as far as I have seen indifferent in the ant. to post. glands.

[CUL-DAR65.29]

Nov 6 1880

I examined under highest power leaf-mould from sand-walk particles of earth from between old rotten leaves & the number of spores of all sizes & different shapes as [illeg] if under up hill to moss.

[CUL-DAR64.1.61_001]

Nov 6 1880

Casting Acid

(1) Fresh brown (ie from depth) castings from Lawn — most distinctly acid by litmus paper.

(2) brown from open Field very acid

(3) (4) both very black from ear hedge in sand-walk slightly not distinctly acid.

(5) rather less black from do — slightly acid

(6 & 7) close to borders of great pile of decayed leaves another the wood — very black & acid.

(Many calcareous matter constitutes acids pancreatic juice does not require acids & [6 words illeg] sucked down leaves [8 lines illeg]

[CUL-DAR64.1.61_002]

Nov 7th [1880]

Tried 5 castings fresh & old from bottom of chalk valley — some quite white — of all that the light brown, but latter contained much C. of Lime. — None of these 5 produced any effect on litmus paper.)

(Nov 7. 3 castings from near Hedge in Sandwalk very slightly acid

4 castings from lawn acid

Same trials were mainly made to reform those made yesterday

The above castings from near Hedge tried again next morning after being dried & now not acid as if acid had evaporated.

8° 4 more tried fresh from near Hedge of sandwalk & being a trace in 2 of them of acid so not minimally acid.

Mould from narrow flower bed close to Verandah — 4 trials — no vestiges of an effect of acid)

Mould amongst roots near surface of turfs 1 to 1 1/2 inch beneath surface

Spot on lawn drains near Brook 5 bits of mould from same clump all strangely acid.

from near Hedge in Sandwalk — 5 trails not in the least acid.

from border of field 4 trials not in the least acid

Leaf mould from Sand walk found leaf cutting at bottom 7 trials no acid

Again from lawn — 4 spots, one dampest when [illeg] above ground another shew moss & mortar another grass — near field all strangely acid. Ground very poor for having been long mown & never manured — ground [illeg] — acid from lawn does not [illeg]

If mould generally not acid, acid must be generated by decay of vege matter in intestines

[CUL-DAR65.30]

Nov 7 1880

I have been looking in Orchard on flower-beds near Scotch-firs where many tufts of fir leaves projected & I find these often drawn in only 1 to 1 1/2 inches but in many cases far between 4 & 5 inches & likewise lined with bits of leaves, so common habit. — This length of 4-5 inches must exceed length of leaves — Possibly by more careful search longer fir lined tubes could have been found. This case to me remarkable as [illeg] but Not Endemic

[CUL-DAR65.31]

Nov 7 1880

I am coming strongly to opinion that leaves drawn into holes & stones over them replace castings, when the worm is living on leaves — I have never seen castings formed only of excrement of digested leaves — I presume not only bulky they can be left in burrows.

[CUL-DAR65.32]

Nov 10 1880

However this may be (after my theoretical explanation) unless cylindrical holes in which of all kinds always tended to collapse, the soil wd be riddled not only by worm burrows, but by hole left by the decay of the roots of the plants which have grown on the surface for time immemorial.

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_006]

Nov 10 1880

4)

(Contents of gizzards & acidity of contents)

Worms dug out of Field

Worm i Killed by chloroform in a dry glass [including] fluid chloroform not allowed to touch worms. They are rather slimy & slightly acid internally. Castings come out in the renal just acid — Contents of Pharynx gizzard & intestine all only faintly acid — more distinctly acid in intestine than gizzard — Gizzard full of vegetable matter no stones or concretion

Worm ii — Pharynx contents not acid with neutral paper fairly ----- with -----blue -----

Gizzard doubtfully acid with neutral paper

Intestine about 5 cm below gizzard certainly acid with neutral paper; with blue paper the pink is brighter than it was in the pharynx i & ii quite distinctly acid — Two stones in gizzard i & ii

Both worms: contents of intestine earthy with pulpy vegetable (?) matter

Worm iii killed in acid — Pharynx quite full of yellowish pulp — Gizzard has pulp mixed with bits of vegetable matter & one large bit of cement (?) in the soft part of gizzard next to intestine. Lower part of intestine filled with brownish earthy looking matter.

Worm iv (Acid) — Pharynx full of pulp mixed with good sized and good many bits of vegetable matter. Gizzard contents more pulpy than pharynx — No stones in either Brown earthy looking matter in intestine

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.57-60_007]

digestion

If acid digestive secretion wd probably be reabsorbed or decomposed & not [excreted] — I suspect acid generated by decay of lime, as all know so much acid is formed by decaying vegetative matter — As we know that acids check action of pancreatic ferment. we can see why 3 pairs of such [illeg] glands have been developed (see Michael Forster on pancreatic juice)

We know the juice favoured most by moth is not acid

[CUL-DAR64.1.86]

Archiv. Zoolog. Exper 1878. p. 395 digestive fluid of earth worms digestive starch.

Quoted

[L. Frédéricq, La digestion des matières albuminöides chez quelques invertébrés. Archives de zoologie expérimentale et générale, 1878.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.87]

[in margin:] When cells formed — nuclei disappear

When cells nucleus has filled itself with some secretion or excretion & is cast off from the parent tissue or gland, what becomes of its nucleus? Does the nucleus remain [illeg] the cell

[illeg] it probably dies in a [2 words illeg] after of the escape of the secretion or the nucleus [illeg] disappear?

[CUL-DAR64.1.88]

[On digestive power]

Is it known whether the digestive power of pancreatic ferment is lessened or stopped by the presence of a considerable quantity of an acid?

Stopped.

[CUL-DAR64.1.89]

Is the digestive power of the pancreatic ferment increased or decreased by the presence of an acid? decreased.

(see Foster)

["On the action of the pancreatic ferment, see 'A Text-Book of Physiology,' by Michael Foster, 2nd edit. pp. 198-203. 1878." cited in Earthworms, pp. 37, 52-53.]

[CUL-DAR64.1.90]

In Herbivorous & omnivorous mammal but not in the carnivorous, the contents of the large intestine become acid not depending on any acid reaction from their mucous membrane Pancreatic juice p. 203 200 199 198

M. Foster A Text Book of Physiology 1878

Sativa p 183-185

[CUL-DAR64.1.91]

I ought to calculate average annual amount from some of the small cells

Oct to now [7 words illeg]

Worm castings not observed under old fruit trees

dry season

— as under Lime & Yews [6 words illeg] — the wood I refer to were periodically [illeg] down, with only here & there a larger fruit tree.

Either under Habit comes in distribution & probably they leave out Knockholt whereas I introduce about Heaths & Mountains

[CUL-DAR64.1.92_001]

Habits

Castings are especially abundant on commons, apparently because the land is poor & produced a scanty vegetation.

On other hand, I have noticed there is great number in the Green Park — Came there as because wondering food are scarcer but

[CUL-DAR64.1.92_002]

It is an instinct coming to surface when land shaken.

[CUL-DAR64.1.93]

found the earth in the intestinal canal praesepe cum lapillis commixtum" * (* De Lumbricus terrestris 1829, p. 14) Give the Beaulieu evidence of little stones & the size — bits of brick — look to Indian & French castings — open gizzards of a dozen worms

Circulatory system

Respiration

The 2 sexes with [many words illeg]

As worms have no jaws. & as the gizzard is lined with a small membrane we may ask whether the little stones & leave, as with gallinaceous birds, to triturate to fragments of vegetable tissues which are swallowed

Claparède says as quoted by PerrierArchiv.p. 417 that stones not found in same part of intestinal canal, when vegetable debris is very digested.

[In Earthworms, p. 13, note: "I shall have occasion often to refer to M. Perrier's admirable memoir, 'Organisation des Lombriciens terrestres' in 'Archives de Zoolog. expér.' tom. iii. 1874".]

(see Back)

[CUL-DAR64.1.94]

Sand thrice tried — only one cabbage onion moved, & in the latter [illeg] not eaten.

Earth

(1) cabbage fresh & decayed 3 days

Cabb 2 hours

Cabb 1 day

[do] 1

[do] 2 days

[do] 1 day

[do] 2 days

7 times

Onion tried all 3 days

[CUL-DAR64.1.95]

Sand-Pot

Cabbage fresh & decayed — discovered & removed after 48 hrs in sand.

Do — removed in Earth pot after 3 days

(Sand pot) cabbage fresh & decayed & onion

sand watered — after 5 days not removed

(Cabbage in Earth removed in 2 hours) V

(Onion found in Earth — removed after 3 days)

(Onion in Earth removed after 3 days)

(Cabbage in Earth [turn turn] soil beneath removed after one day V

(Cabbage in Earth over turn — grt, removed after 1 day V

(Cabbage in Earth passed down Earth [shell] & water V removed after 2 days

(Cabbage treated same way removed after 1 day

(red cabbage in earth removed after 2 days V

(red cabb in sand not moved

[CUL-DAR64.1.96]

The Zoologist, vol. 7. 1849. p. 2576 W. K. Bridgman who watched worms in his garden says the cases of Phlox verna appeared to be a particular favourite of worms — that they selected an old & decayed leaf — draw small fragments quite into burrow — also draw a flower of Jasmine, & [also taken along] crawled over a fresh leaf which had been placed in its course & drew fallen corolla of a Jasmine into burrow. He examined their action by the aid of a light as did C. Newman & Lucy [Wedgwood]

[Earthworms, p. 20, note: "For instance, Mr. Bridgman and Mr. Newman ('The Zoologist,' vol. vii. 1849, p. 2576), and some friends who observed worms for me."]

[CUL-DAR64.1.62]

Nov 8 80

Last night rain, after many dry & cold days & this morning I saw very many tracks can thus colonise new places.

[CUL-DAR65.33-34_001]

Nov 12th 1880

(Fir-leaves)

[in margin:] Not endemic plant

Pots with worms from further end of K. Garden where no fir tree, I observed 2 or 3 days ago that apparently as many leaves had been dragged into mouth burrows by their tips, as by their bases. — [in margin:] young worm aboutTo day (12th) in Pot IV, in one burrow 8 pairs were drawn in properly by bases & many scattered long outside. (These leaves had their tips cut off) — In second 5 had been drawn close to but not into mouth of burrow by their tips & one alone by base.

Pot IV. Nov 13, 2 drawn little way in by tips, 2 by bases.

(Pot III Nov 14 1 by base 1 by tips — IV do 1 by base)

(Nov. 15 III 2 by base

(- 16 III 2 by base, 1 by point — Pot V 1 base 1 points

(16 raw meat in all 3 Pots.)

17 Pot IV 2 by points & 1 by base

18 Pot III 3 with point & 1 by base —only just in mouth of burrow

19 IV 2 little way in mouth by Points

21 IV 2 little way in base — They merely pile them over burrow. V — by base & one by Point

[CUL-DAR65.33-34_002]

Nov 22d Pot IV 2 by base 1 by Point

23 IV 1 by base 1 by Point

25 IV 1 by Point

N.B. These observations cannot be fully [treated] , as in Pot VI with worm from beneath fir-trees do not drag in leaves.

[CUL-DAR64.1.63]

Nov 15 / 80

After very rainy night traced very large worm in serpentine course for nearly 5 yards into burrow in gravel-walk

[CUL-DAR64.1.64_001]

Nov 17 80

I have tried a large number of leaves dragged naturally into holes — some tried separately — some by washing several in wetted glass & no alkali (or acid) secretion, on best paper. Yet in juice deposit starch must be of [3 words illeg] or pancreatic, Paper in acid so freely [illeg] from decaying leaves [illeg] any alkali in juice when first [illeg] Saliva alkali? Foster says (p. 183 in a healthy [illeg] its [rectum] is alkaline; especially when secretion abundant. As juice of

[CUL-DAR64.1.64_002]

worm so some kills protoplasm & dissolves starch [2 words illeg] parasitic, especially as salivary gland do not appear [line illeg]

p. 185 Foster the action of saliva or starch [2 words illeg] slightly alkali medium do not go or even in presence of much quantity of as acid.

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_001]

Nov 17 1880

Calc glands

Larger post. gland — milky fluid full of [illeg] spheres & organic matter rendered almost transparent by acetic acid — added ammonia & then oxalic acid & white precipitate, no plain effervescence — ant. gland small no trace of concretion in either.

2° worm no crystals in small ant. gland — endless minute spheres

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_002]

Nov 17 1880

Calc glands A

(1) worm: 2 glands on each side — when whole gland put in acetic acid much effervescence — endless spheres from 1 to 2 divisions of [illeg] in diameter with central granular matter slightly opake, when acetic acid added some slide effervesces — spheres rapidly disappear the opake centre first enlarging & then disappearing & ultimately whole cell — then neutralized by ammonia & oxalic acid carried white precipitate — When whole gland put in acid great effervescence & oxalic acid caused copious precipitate. When gland crushed white pulpy matter exude & then consists of masses above spheres — In one of glands a small globular & crystalline mass — Washed small concretion & broke it easily into small angular crystallinetransparent particles added acetic acid — effervesced. I could detect no evidence here of the spheres.

Nov 19th I saw spec. with ant. gland empty — but I am now not sure, whether what I have called the great post. gland is not 2 glands.

In a specimen in what I suppose ant. gland there were easily spheres, with some granular matter & nucleus & nucleolus & occasionally with several vacuoles or small sphere matter. (I imagine generating cells of C. of Lime) There are very little or at all acted on by acetic acid & numerous very small, mulberry-like collection of C. of Lime & whole seem to pass into rhombic crystals — anyhow in some minute mass — crystals in parts & mulberry spheres in other parts.

(21st crushed up 2 more concretions from other worm, being first washed in acetic acid no signs of spheres or oval bodies.

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_003]

Nov 21.

Calc glands

B66

I now feel almost sure that post. folded gland is 2 glands — The ant. one difficult to be seen according to Class: the other been overlooked — I dissolved one ant. gland out clear externally & internally was clearly formed of lamellæ like those of post glad & was united to it like the 2 folds of the post, glands. This ant. gland contained a multitude of so-called oil-drops (which Frank agrees with me effervesce in acetic acid & leave more ghosts of cell & fragments of finest tissue — They are certainly cells & the cell-wall must die & disintegrate & then the contained calc. matter unite with minute mulberry masses any gradation of this union for 2 little spheres of calc matter cd be traced — And the mulberry masses either become crystallized — or the calc. matter from the first unites in rhombic crystals — When a great concretion is formed either the lamellæ must be absorbed or pushed to other side (The great cells with nucleus & nucleolus seen yesterday no no

The worm probably a bit of testes) or [illeg] got in by [illeg]

In some were from calc field, but makes no difference in state of glands. Bits of vegetable matter & some green in gizzards — stomach distended into do. There were two large but not very thick, highly transparent calc plates in the gizzard of worm, pieces of shells in which the lamellæ & little spheres were detected in the anterior gland, & thus explains there presence, for the concretion had no dark no no been recently ejected from gland by a wonderful act of perturbation.

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_004]

Nov 22d

I have now examined these concretions in ant. gland, before they were wholly dissolved by acetic acid. & it is obvious that they are several in finest membrane, with many successive layers of do — crust immersed except when action of calc matter happens to be there.

The undissolved emptied particles all lie in lines & end wrongly in certain line — I suppose the long lines correspond to lamellæ — It appears that cells with calc. milk [illeg] unite [illeg] to form concretion in parallel layers & membrane, I wd think cells unite & it is removing cell walls which hold the calc matter together. It is more probable that calc & animal matter deposited together. — Cd it have been bit of shells of Helix? rounded?)

[in margin:] A bit of shell on I am quite doubtful whether a bit of some shell — acetic a. [illeg] that some [illeg]

(Nov. 20 worm caught) In one of worms from calc. field- I distinguished all 3 pairs of glands most posterior smallest! Some with many calc matter & all [2 words illeg] not projecting freely — almost disappeared only recognizable by the parallel sections.

In a second specimen Frank same result — no glands with calc.

In gizzard of [illeg] in worms from calc. field, rounded bits of chalk & on angular bits of [illeg] in 2d gizzard from do field 4 bits of hard chalk, all rounded — 3d most distinctly largest less rounded, yet rounded — also concretion — which seem rounded.

Good the rounding of the chalk granules formation has worn appearance — Of course they may have selected rounded grains of chalk.)

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_005]

Calc. glands plans of Discussion C

After motion of food — pancreatic juice — acidity, through action of pancreatic juice injured by acid, got in great intestine of herbivorous mammals acidity (Foster)

This leads to denigration of one of most [illeg] in shorter of functions of whole [2 words illeg] in animal Kingdom. viz the power of 3 pairs of glands, on each [illeg] C. of Lime in first of the stomach or enlarged œsophagus, & of [2 words illeg] to the gizzard,

(a) In Urochæta enlarge glands open into intestinal glands canal posteriorly as Perrier has shown, the gizzard. In 2 parts & large pair appear white & when squared [illeg] are extraordinary quantity of white pulpy matter — This consists of an infinity of sphere, varying from [2 words illeg] ; but in certain cases even smaller. Look so like drops of oil that Claparède tested them with ether &c. & found that they were not oil but found were deformed by acetic acid. In centre of end a little granular matter where acetic acid added effervesced — fluid touch with oxalic acid white precipitate — so do dark C. of Lime —

After acetic acid a ghost of cell is left — [4 words illeg] or collagen, so that [illeg] of escaping fine matter are left after many spheres have been acted only a. a. —

If therefore this delicate cell-wall were naturally to disintegrate the gland wd contain of escaping fine granular C. of Lime.

In Ant. gland, is rather smaller & generally has a very different appearance; for they contain crystalline transparent concretion, easily dissolved sometimes filling up whole gland — like olive oil flask — how even escape is a wonder- yet often found in gizzard & one is castings

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_006]

(a) Claparède has shown that the glands are not hollow walls but diverticula from the wall of the œsophagus & was formed by very many lamellæ with glandular surface.

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_007]

D Still often 2 or 3 or many concretions or [illeg] of colour. Spar (a) — But on dissecting a worm in which there were 2 large no pieces of shell concretions in gizzard & none whatever in ant. gland.

This was found to include lamellæ & spheres each ball exactly like those in post. glands, except not so many. Claparède says when sometimes where he thought that calc matter were brought from post. glands into there. We may conclude that the sphere emit the calc content in the gland & thus the [illeg] aggregate with [4 words illeg]

Why the process shd [illeg] take place in ant. gland only rarely in post glands — forfor secretion are sometimes fd post glands hard to say.

What becomes of lamellæ — where which gland filled up I know not — much tissue left when calc. mass dissolved.

[illeg] of Calc. matter endless disparities — Claparède Mechanical — Perrier chemical such large gland & so copious contents — My theory — concretion found to carry the [illeg] matter to posterior parts of intestine — for the little oil-like bodies soon acted on.

Claparède does no seem to have [illeg] that they were cells cast off & therefore normal manner of section

Then a gradation in ant. glands for concretion filling up whole gland — the 2 or 3 or several concretions & shortest crystals— minute mulberry like masses — the minute [illeg] beds of calc. matter & have [illeg] in services to cells containing calc. matter but as yet no concretion or crystals which wd form as soon as excessively fine cell-walls had disintegrated)

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_008]

(a) In one gland, escaping minute beads of coloured spheres aggregate by 2 or 3 or by many & are enlarged into mulberry mass & some crystallized.

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_009]

Nov. 23d There are 3 pairs of glands those which I have often seen. The 2 posterior on each side closely united: ant. more oval in shape in this spec larger than posterior & filled with several small globular concretions — gland is generally smaller than the post. glands.

Parallel blood vessels on surface so characteristic of those glands I have measured one of both glands after removing several largish concretions besides the parallel red vessels other then lamellæ, with lines of so-called oil-globules between them, also cakes of oil-globules.

also many very minute mulberry concretions, & the oil-globules could be traced blending with these concretions. But besides these within the glands, also externally in water with squared out matter, or multitude of largish ghost-like cells with granular matter, nucleus & nucleolus which we thought were sperm-cells — now several of them had longer refraction nucleus like oil globule, & I believe that earth by digestion or contraction of outer cell-wall the oil-globules consist of these ghost-like cells, with nucleus enlarged. — It is probably contraction of cell-wall, with disappearance of nucleus or the gland condensation of the granular mortar.

Examined a very small concretion (In one of those little concretions rhombic cleavage line cd be distinctly traced) out of same gland, embedded in pulpy matter, which largely consisted of above cells with nucleus & nucleolus, & of the so-called oil-globules (these latter cd be again seen blending with the concretions) & I think the oil-globules are somehow found by the larger cells.

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_010]

Nov 23d continued

Another small spherical concretion from gland on opposite sides forced out of gland rounded with pulpy matter & oil-globules; & I could see in the pulpy matter ghosts of cells, with no nucleus & this makes me think that nucleus turns into oil globule (I have again seen that the mode of the spermatozoa-like cells with acetic acid instead of disappearing, became clearer) (When I squeezed the opposite ant. gland millions of the larger ghost cells came out — they must be connected with formation portion of oil spheres.) (I put small globular concretion, squeezed out of ant. gland & surrounded with some pulpy matter in acetic a. & a circular of yellowish membranous matter was left — between the layers. I could just distinguish the ghost-like cells with nuclei. It is therefore certain these do occur in the calc. glands.) I have been sorting again at same dissolved concretion, & I can see only an upper & lower membrane with layer of ghost-cells between which the concretion lay; these 2 layers no doubt are 2 of the lamellæ of Claparède; thus structure more & more the same as in Post. glands — lamellæ must be included when many small concretions unite with one.)

Nov 23d

(Frank has seen 2 or 3 other worms with no calc. matter in glands, so that almost invisible;

Nov. 25, 2 more worms for Pot III with no visible calc. glands

(over)

[CUL-DAR64.1.65-70_011]

Nov 26th added another a. to a multitude of oil-globules & they disappear being very fine debris & many little cinders possibly nuclei

Like a flash — sometimes disappear much more slowly, so that walls of as if wall-membrane had been thicken

Cells being faintly seen — This also disappear when little acid & many spheres are tested. In this posterior gland I could see none of the ghost like cells, which are not another one by acetic

Look to another post. gland & cd see no trace of the larger cells they are either not here present, or only present at action time when calc. oil-globules are forming

[CUL-DAR64.1.72]

Nov 18 1880 /

Last night I put bits of raw fat through pins & this morning in Pot III & IV. Every bit of fat removed, & in Pot V I saw last night worm fixed to fat — I had previously observed edge crenulated — It is certain that worms like fat better than almost anything — agree with power of pancreatic juice in making emulsions.

[CUL-DAR64.1.71]

Nov 19 / 80 /

Saw worm sucking end of raw meat into mouth & tugging at it over & over again. On previous night saw them attracted by raw meat again saw worm do — Also do in another Pot — concretion

[CUL-DAR64.1.73_001]

Nov 27 80

[in margin:] Digestion

Celery leaf dragged into hole & quite moist apparently very lately moistened by worms & slightly, but distinctly alkaline with best neutral litmus paper

Nov 30 Celery leaf again wettish & turn litmus paper blue

Celery preferred to all other leaves including cabbage — Ivy, Lime, ampelopis

Dec 2d preferred the parsnip — lime ampelopis & cabbage

Dec 2d Celery (fresh spec) in both pots & cabbage in one pot wet & distinctly alkaline — say common turmeric paper not sufficiently sensitive — must be now neutral Litmus paper

Dec 3d Bit of celery not wet from mouth of burrow — made 2 bits of litmus paper blue, showed it Frank & noticed other paper at same time — he said no doubt.

they dragged in part blackened vein not reddened.

Dec 18th 2 more bits of celery juice of celery (paled leaves) not with best alkaline.

[CUL-DAR64.1.73_002]

Dec 22d Bit of dragged in Turnip leaf very alkaline does not [illeg] juice of other parts of same leaf — Cabbage in both respects the same

[CUL-DAR64.1.74]

Dec 1 & 2d 80 -F. made section of Post. glands after being hardened in alcohol — The lamellæ are lined with pulpy matter & in them layers of myriads of the so-called oil-globules were embedded in ends of others lay between the lamellæ — when acetic a. was added the oil-globules disappeared with effervescence like a flash, & in the flakes of pulpy matter (after some hours) there were left ghosts of many cells which contained something like a nucleus & a few much larger cells containing some matter, but apparently no nucleus. — I feel almost sure that ant. gland differs from post. glands in the great number of the larger cells, which are not acted on by acetic a. The few larger cells in port glands may be that generation [illeg] to small concretion which occasionally are P. in port. glands.

[CUL-DAR64.1.75]

Dec 2d /80/

Last night good deal of rain & worms have been crawling about, but not so many as before.

[CUL-DAR64.1.76]

Dec 3 [1880]

I found a grass leaf — still attached to root; drawn into hole by tip, & this tip buried & killed — the section is evidently poisonous — Tried several old decayed leaves drawn into holes, out of doors & now alkaline, except possibly & slightly a Hornbeam & other unknown leaf.

[CUL-DAR64.1.77]

Dec 12 1880

Leith Hill -

Worms now extremely active. On common where Heath, gorse, coarse grass & moss grow, on stony-sandy soil — castings very rare — Where carts, or horse or foot-path less common — surface covered with very fine turf — This may be observed on common in all parts of England — hence I suppose the traffic injuring the taller growing plants & the manner dragged by the the travelling animals.

On the grass-covered trench, where inclined where trees are here & there stony or sandy patches, no or any castings can be seen, but when the track becomes very gently inclined or level casting abound — the whole surface being in parts covered with them. I suppose that sometime fine earth has been washed down on the same level parts & then formed a bed in which worms can live. Among some grass & heath, on the sides of the tracks in the parts when worms abound some castings could be found for a distance of a few feet, but beyond this it was rare on careful search to find a single casting.

It wd appear as if the more fertile part, had been so stocked with worms that some were compelled to live in the adjoining parts covered with the original coarse vegetation

[CUL-DAR65.36]

Dec 13 1880 I have been looking at old pasture land near Leith Hill. In ditch recently dug across part — mould everywhere 8 inches — so it was on a level crest — I begin to believe that mould often first portion is added to with extreme slowness, for worm burrowing seldom to the greater depth, & possibly they may use old burrows, the deposit sand, then castings, though I have never seen this, except in near surface in lower & dug ground.

[CUL-DAR65.37]

Dec 13/80

Leith Hill

Lower Terrace, on which Lucy observed worms — certainly less favourable for worms judging by number of castings shown at upper Terraces & lawns & adjoining fields. Terrace found long ago, at least a century — On digging hole, the black vegetable mould, with turf, was exactly 4 inches in thickness, resting on a level surface, formed of small & large fragments of sandstone with a little earth, firmly rammed down.

[CUL-DAR65.38_001]

Lucy On

Ch. 2 [amount] of mould but very common near square yard — nearly level mould only 3 to 4 inches thick. On terrace near sq yard 3 3/4 inch.

[CUL-DAR65.38_002]

There is reason to believe that the Terraces were formed about 150 years ago. So only 4 inches of fine mould accumulated in those times — at first very slow — but the Terraces is of course move by margin mediums or [illeg] & occasionally swept when the leaves are falling & thus some amount of the castings are removed, yet this hardly accounts for the vegetable mould being only 4 inches thick

 

[CUL-DAR64.1.78]

Dec. 20 80 F[rank] has made section of anterior glands & these are certainly lamellæ, as in Post glands — lined with pulpy cellular matter extremity to gland cells are very large — how those cells give rise to smaller calciferous cells we do not know — there were ghosts of such cells between lamellæ — Specimen had been placed in chloric acid

[CUL-DAR65.40_001]

[21 December 1880]

[in margin:] I have only just alluded to this in Ch. I

Sand is rendered pale by immersion for some weeks in diluted muriatic acid — The tiles not affected, but not tiles (I cannot avoid feeling rather sceptical whether the discoloured bits were really tiles or not pale brick accidentally in soil) I must not give tiles without further evidence as were added very little before worms dissolved & I think bits of brick given before) I have now (Dec 21) compared some bits of tiles got out of castings in Pots V & VI with fresh tiles soaked in water, & the former appear (& when broken) a shade duller red.

Jan 6 1881 Sand & tiles now left immersed for several weeks in diluted nitric & sulphuric acids — Tiles not affected — Sand much yellower in the Sulfuric & only slightly

[in margin:] Last casting

[CUL-DAR65.40_002]

Lucy still [few words illeg]

acid, but in both still much oxide of iron clinging to grains — The watch-glasses were compared with fresh sand in water — Certainly the digestive fluid seems to act more powerfully on the oxide of iron in the sand than in the several acids tried.

"The acids in the castings seemed also more efficient as seeming to cover then even diluted (according to M [illeg] ) sulphuric, nitric or hydrochloric acids

[CUL-DAR64.1.79]

Dec. 28 / 80/

Mild weather much rain lately walk all wet — many worn tracks — traced round field from burrows near edge of walk — one track was traced for 10 yards or about 30 feet.

[CUL-DAR64.2.31]

[1880-1881]

Frank

Terrace 3.5 lb per square yard: how much per acre. — George says 7.5625 tons

Right

On common

7 lb 7 1/4 oz per square yard — How much per acre — George says 16.10407 tons

Right

[CUL-DAR64.2.32_001]

36 36 216 108. 1296 square inches

6 [x] 6 [=] 36 [x] 6 [=] 198

The castings thereafter very compact when dry.

(I feel sure I have seen casting over such spaces where if spaced out in cases at which several spaces 1/4 inch deep)

Weigh earth

Manner of measuring quite dry — well chalked put in by [illeg] - Considering dryness that earth beneath get in more or less fall of roots vacuities &unites as when by puffing up of air after dry weather when also watered — I think my measurements wd if the great dry earth give a fully equal thinking of ordinary vegetable surface mould in pasture land.

On a sandy common at height of about 950 ft square yard marked, but not so often visited as some distance from Houses. Therefore the less certainly much more especially as casting more sandy & even during dry weather sometimes crumbled into dust — after very wet weather even more loss so less than real amount cast up. (The other square on Terrace, about average for castings perhaps water beneath: certainly some sites far more frequented by worms — Commons seem particularly good. Why?)

[CUL-DAR64.2.32_002]

Note on the amount of Earth thrown up on the surface by Earth-worms in the course of a year.

Many years ago I read a paper on the subject before the Soc. which was published in Transacts & illustrated by woodcuts. My object in publishing it was partly to illustrate a considerable effect produced by very slight & apparently inefficient cause [acting] during my years & partly because I had been pushed by having [2 words illeg] , a coin some depth beneath the surface of meadow. I could not conceive how they got so deep into earth beneath the entangled roots of the grasses. In like manner in stony country, if not be seen & I have carefully watched during the course of much time a score of years, the product, but at last complete disappearance of every stone from the surface gives [illeg] & answer. The view has been objected to by more than one writer. On account of the apparent influence of the means, in reaction to the effect produced. No other explanation however have been offered of the burying of objects, excepting the decay of the grass; but this then considering such the percentage of ashes is in grass could not be marl & most of matter wd be reabsorb

In consequence I persuaded a friend one whom I cd completely trust & few are interested in the subject to meet the to hope this month is Sunny in square yard & carefully watched all the castings from the beginning of 1870 to 1871 on a [illeg] grass terrace, [illeg] near his House, facing S but slight shaded, with square shallow from fixed in ground, in Surrey.

which was then kept for early part of October 1870 to do in 1871 & be called late year

But there were some caught up, from short absence of a week or so & if heavy rains cum winds it's often the worm is cast up in [illeg] to be washed away. [illeg] wastes from wet casting adding to black grass, so shd not be removed.

He observed few castings in middle of summer most in Spring & Autumn.

Now removed, & weighed.

[CUL-DAR64.2.86-89_001]

[1880-1881]

Frank

What is angle of a surface rising 14 ft in yards?

120 [x] 3 [=] 360

1400 [illeg] 108

320 [-] 288 [=] 32

388 = 0388

between 2° 13' & 2° 14'

[CUL-DAR64.2.86-89_002]

Frank Big Chalk Valley

If 1 lb 13 1/2 oz were accumulated during 45 days, how much would accumulate during 182 days (1/2 year); & having worked this out, how much per acre during the working half of the year.

Ton 16.111 per acre in 182 days

[calculations]

4840sqr yards in acre

[CUL-DAR64.2.86-89_003]

twice weight of disintegrated casting from 71 gr food

270 grams = 9.52 ounces

9.52 [x] 9 [=] 85.68 [÷] 9 [=] 952

also multiply by 9 from square yard 9.52 x 9 = 85.68

Collected on same spot after interval of 4 months 1096 gr or 71 grams = 2.5003

(reduce to oz)

lb 8568000 (5.57

80

5.7

2.5 [x] 9 [=] 22.5 [÷] 10 [-] 16 [=] 6 oz (1.65

[CUL-DAR64.2.86-89_004]

29 1/2 oz ejected on square yard in 40 years

I assume the worms work for 1/2 year

[calculations]

Great Valley Calcareous castings

[calculations]

Amount ejected on square yard during 6 months (3)

Multiply (3) by 4840 sq yards in acre & reduce to tons & Pounds

40593.08 pounds per acre = 18.12 tons = 18 tons 27 pounds

[CUL-DAR64.2.6_001]

[1880-1881]

Work in at end of Chapt. — for 10 years

Maer (p. 45) after 14 3/4 years, sandy dry pasture but good average accumulation .23, as 3 1/2 inches accumulated as far as I cd estimate. — nearly 11 annually

Maer (p. 48) swampy field, after 21 years, average 19 in annually — thickness about 4 inches.

Maer (p. 49) very swampy field after 7 years average .21 inch — 2 inches accumulated

Down — after 29 years — average .2 about But on Stony field only average .0833 (i.e 9996 in 12 years) after 30 years

[CUL-DAR64.2.6_002]

D. K. accumulated [illeg] number 10 or 12 mortar 14.58 tons per acre in years

Bottom of Big valley, judging from 40 days accumulated

tons? a bulk lb 1 tons

Terrace 7 1/2 tons

Common 16.1 tons

[CUL-DAR65.129]

Maer .22 annually

p 49 at 1.9 annually

swamp field .21 inches

Down .21 1-2.2

p. 51 Stony field .083

At Leith Hill we may say .15 inch

p 79 & 80 summary on sq yard Leith Hill

Stony Field 10° — to 15°

Teg Valley 2° — 3°

[CUL-DAR65.130-131_001]

What would 240 cubic inches weigh?

= 185.1 oz

= 11.56 lb avoirdupois

= 11lb 9 oz

2.4 x 10 = 24 x 10 = 240

2.4 = 1.851

24 = 18.51

240 = 185.1

lb 56 [÷] 2 [=] 23.12

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR65.130-131_002]

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR65.130-131_003]

3.5 cubic inches of damp earth castings were weighed = 76.6 grams

Therefore:

2.4 cubic inches would weigh 810 grains = 1.851 oz

[CUL-DAR64.1.80]

Jan 3d 1881

Worms out last night crawling along walks — mild weather walk wet

[CUL-DAR65.39-39v_001]

Jan 4th [1881] Ash petioles field — only few in each hole

Drawn in by apex 5 (+ 1 doubtful)

Jan 5 29

Jan 6 Another day 37 [total] 71

Jan 7th 40

71+40 [=] 111

Drawn in by Base conically thicker & square

10

Jan 5 21 * Back

6 42

73 [+] 45 [=] 118

111 [+] 118 [=] 229

Jan 7 of the 45 drawn in by base 24 gnawed, but it is not always manifest whether the gnawing is [real]

Petioles of Clematis in Verandah, dragged into holes in gravel-walk& lawn for 2 1/2 to even 4 1/2 inches in depth

17 dragged into 1 hole

Drawn in by apex 13

in same hole (10) 8

From several holes 39

[total] 60 [+] 49

Gravel walk (same) [total] 109

On but turf border to lawn & on lawn itself 62

In narrow bed of mould & end of verandah 68

Total 239

Drawn in by base 4 [+] 2 [+] 11 [=] 17 [+] 10 [=] 27

Collected on different places & days points always in excess of Bases

Proportion of points greater on gravel-walk turf or mould beds

(over)

[CUL-DAR65.39-39v_002]

Jan 5th * Of the 21 ash-petioles drawn in by base all except 3 ie 18 had thick end when leaf articulated with branch gnawed & this explains why so many there drawn in — Apparently many petioles are temporarily drawn in & then rejected for many lay strewn round holes — Some drawn in for protection of burrow & some for food — base thick & fleshy.

Jan 6 37 drawn in by tip, tips perhaps 6 gnawed — of the 42 drawn in by base, only 6 not gnawed. Of the 37 — drawn in by tip, 5 had previously been gnawed at base. I have no doubt the petioles are drawn in by base, gnawed & then pushed out of hole. The bases of petioles much enlarged.

Clematis I believe C. Montana — petiole thicker at base, but not enlarged like ash petiole — How are pet of Robinia Taper only moderately

Observation to test intellectual power of if such an expression may be used, or the discrimination of such lowly organised creatures as worms.

I doubt about pricking, though such was appearance in case of Pine leaves — as small rose-thorns, very sharp front of glass & hard score with very sharp projecting points

[CUL-DAR65.39-39v_003]

Jan 8th 1881 — Maerash-trees in Field surface partly thickly strewn with old petioles; I picked up 47 petioles, where they lay with thick mud a casting; of the 47, 14 had been gnawed at the broad basal end (or a little above the articulation, as is often the case with those drawn into burrows). Thus sufficient to show that worms after drawing in petioles into burrows; reject them as not fitted for protective purpose as cannot easily for draw far down holes, for many of the 47 had partly fallen on surface & had never been touched by worms.

[CUL-DAR65.41]

Jan 9th 1881

With respect to "blind impulsive act" we shall see that the Laburnum Clematis montana — Robinia & Pinus are not native plants Their special management must be an acquired or transformed one.

[CUL-DAR63.53]

[20 January 1881]

[Beanstick] from precincts of Abbey — not from trap-door — bit of brick, with very few exceptions plainly rounded — great contrast from verandah tiles broken & washed — also both of mortar or cement rounded — there was on picking for rounded pieces — (2 calc. concretions out of castings opposed to digestion theory & looks like excretion

From trap door — a few not rounded — great majority certainly rounded — some well rounded — also bits of mortar — some bits of tile — as they are flakes — bits of some vine of slate with points & edges. Little rounded.

a 2d bit from trap-door bits not so much worms, yet some show attrition

Jan 20 1881

[CUL-DAR64.1.81]

Jan 20 1881

Two cal concretions in castings from Beaulieu & some from those at Abinger & in castings in Pot — There is much lime in some leaves, so that these concretions may seem partly as excretion, & it may well be that with different kinds of food there may be requisite very different amounts of cc of line to neutralise to generate acids.

[CUL-DAR64.1.82]

Jan 20 1881

Worms from flower pots in study — 2 cases in which anterior pair of glands were large while the posterior [pairs] were invisible.

[CUL-DAR63.54]

Jan 22d 1881

In the 2 paths where have been kept for 10 weeks, examined the many bits of tiles in the castings — this shows that same fragment not long kept in gizzard, as does frequency of fragment in intestines — the fragments not discoloured — & I think they show compared with fowl fragments washed — a trace of attrition, but then doubtful.

(4 bits of tiles (red) out of gizzard of above worms, I think that there is perhaps a trace of attrition in 3 of them, but doubtful.)

I have relooked at old bits of rust of gizzards & only 1 of the 4 show any attrition.

[CUL-DAR63.55]

If there existed no more of bringing up the disintegrated rock or fine earth from beneath the turf, [fine] dust wd turn to solid rock [with] bits far beneath the roots of plants & no longer be acted on — As it is first rule not be light note down limits

Good fertilizing burn & all Stone when wet subside — so some [marl] & [illeg] of softer [burnt of soil]

[CUL-DAR63.56]

[in margin:] Disintegrated rounded particles like Shots roll-down

When Land rather bare of vegetation wind will carry bits of castings more down a slope then in opposite direction — All these came with [casg] matter some & more these might have been anticipated down every grass-covered slope — The apparent whole — Tumulus —

[CUL-DAR63.57-58_001]

Jan 5 [1881]

On Lawn (wind)

No 1 ∠ 3/4° 2 in

No 2 ∠ 2° 1 6/10 in

No 3 ∠ 3 1/2°

No 4 ∠ 1° average angle 1' 81°

[total] 7° 1/4

Upper half weight 186 1/2 gr

Lower 497 grs

Length 2 in

1 6/10 in

1 9/10 in

1 7/10 in

4 / 7 2/10

Av. 1'8 length

Average above

This must not be used for average as Wind is [illeg]

[CUL-DAR63.57-58_002]

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR63.57-58_003]

Jan 5th

On Mound

Angles & Length

No 1 ∠ 10°

No 2 ∠ 9° 1/2

No 3 ∠ 17 1/2°

No 4 ∠ 15 1/2°

Length 1 9/10 in

1 8/10 in

1 1/2 in

2 2/10 in

Lower half weighs 703 1/2 grs

Upper half 408

[CUL-DAR64.1.83_001]

Jan 29th 1881

When the antcalc gland is constantly filled with a concretion, which by a wonderful act of [illeg] is excreted.

The lamellæ (which I certainly saw in some ant. glands) must be somehow reformed, & on a section of an ant. gland about [Francis] made after removing the large calc concretions, the section showed circular or oval passages lined with cells & filled with the so called oil — globules with opake central I therefore imagine that new lamellæ are formed by almost gradual & diverticula from the œsophagus, which are afterwards grown or are developed into the lamellæ. I may add, about the larger cells nucleus and nucleolus. Why the calciferous form cells into

[CUL-DAR64.1.83_002]

calc. concretion in the ant. glands & only virtually & easily into small concretion in the posteriorglands I do not at all know.

[CUL-DAR64.1.84]

Feb 4th 1881

Worms have been crawling about after heavy rain —

Feb 5 many worms have crawled about.

By specifying the above 7 March I do not wish to [illeg] that I do not crawl about at other times, but no observations were made.

[CUL-DAR65.125v]

Feb. 8th 1881 Petioles of Clematis montana 2 1/2 to 4 inch in length — do not … much — actual base or part of attachment about twice as thick as apex.

[CUL-DAR65.75]

Feb. 14 [1881] Chalk

Taken from deepest part of pit at Orchis Bank — Powdered, & dried in water bath; chalk dissolved in hydrochloric acid — Residue washed on filter, dried in water bath, & weighed.

Chalk = 111.4 grams Residue = 1.3 [grams] = 1.2 per cent

[CUL-DAR65.117]

Hydrochloric (dilute) has 30.1 per cent of by volume of strong hydrochloric

Dilute nitric estimated same way: 19.3 per cent

Dilute sulphuric 8.3 per cent

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_001]

Feb 4th 1881

Triangles of Paper

1)

some of card wetted (1 inch x 3) under Lime trees many previously pulled twigs & leaves out of Holes, 3 well pulled by apex into holes & 2 of them had basal corners quite close, the other was so dirty all are if could not be known whether worm had first tried by basal corner — A 4th triangle had been pulled about & much dirtied but not dragged into holes; one of basal angles was a little frayed as if worms had tried thus to drag it in.

Feb 5 Under Lime 2 more paper triangles drawn in by apex into 2 of same burrows — This makes 5 by apex under Limes. All thrown away. They were all broad paper I am almost sure. On gravel walk by Fir trees 4 by apex, 2 of paper broad & 2 of card narrow of those, I think basal under of one clean, of other dirty. By basal 3, narrow cards drawn in only a little way — F.

Total on the paper 9 by apex & 3 by base = 12

(N.B. Supposing that worms do not settle which end to draw in object by, & try all ways, yet it shows some sense to try in different methods, & only during a single night.)

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_002]

Feb 8th omit in [classifying] broad & narrow

(2)

Orchard

1 by apex, but little doubled

9 under Limes 1 feather drawn in by apex, (ie not shaft)

10th orchard 3 paper triangles — 2 narrow & 1 broad, by apex

1 do broad drawn very little way by basal angle

11 orchard 2 narrow paper by base

2 Broad do by apex

15 1 narrow paper by apex

1 feather by apex

16th muddy walk field; paper broad — 4 drawn in doubled & one by base

17 verandah 1 narrow paper by apex

Orchard 2 do do apex

1 broad paper apex

1 narrow paper by Base hardly inverted

Muddy walk meadow one Broad by apex

Feb 18th Verandah & orchard

5 narrow paper by apex (3 of them were clean at base)

4 broad paper by apex

1 narrow paper by base

6 doubled up & much have been seized about middle -all by base to narrow & 2 to broad

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_003]

Feb 18 1881.

(3)

Muddy walk of field

6 broad triangles by apex

2 do by base

2 doubled, drawn by middle

18 Orchard some drawn in during this damp cloudy day!

1 narrow paper by tip

2 broad paper by tip

1 broad by base

One feather by shaft

(State about paper gnawed —The doubled ones are seldom drawn in deep; but these & others drawn by base it shows that worms can draw them from any points of seizing.) They prefer to draw by apex

(As far as I can remember when the broad triangles have been drawn in by apex, the angles at base have not been bent, as they surely wd if worms had first tried to drag them in by angles at base.)

Feb 19th Orchard

3 broad paper buried by apex — Basal angles not at all crumpled

10 narrow triangles by apex — Of these 10, 7 showed no crumply of basal angles as if first tried to be drawn in — 2 others could not be [taken] as they had been doubled up & all drawn into burrow; 1 also showed a doubtful trace of having first been pulled by basal angle

1 broad by base

4 narrow by base (2 in same hole — The basal angles crumpled & dirtied with slime. that the above if they had been drawn in by basal angles first wd probably have showed signs

1 narrow folded by middle

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_004]

Feb 19

(4)

Muddy Path Field

5 broad triangles by apex — basal angles of all 5 not doubled or crumpled

2 broad doubled in middle

Feb 20 Orchard

2 narrow by apex basal angle not crumpled

1 narrow by base (of course much crumpled)

1 broad by base (do)

Path Muddy field

1 broad by apex — basal angles nut crumpled

1 broad folded transversely

Feb 21st snow on the ground this morning & cold last night Near Verandah

1 narrow by apex, basal angles not crumpled — it was doubled within burrow at 1 1/4 inches from apex [therefore] 1 3/4 from base.

1 narrow by apex — basal angles not crumpled — not at all doubled

In soft earth under Laurel in Orchard

1 Broad, buried by apex basal angles not crumpled, tip from length of all above 3/10 of inch doubled

1 Broad buried by apex — one basal angle apparently crumpled — tip doubled from length like last

1 Broad buried by apex — basal angles not crumpled — tip not doubled.

1 Broad buried little way by one of basal angles, & thus much crumpled in corner

1 Broad, drawn into hole by middle, of course doubled & crumpled

Gravel walk orchard

1 narrow V by apex, extreme tip doubled.

4 Broad buried by one of basal angles, in no case drawn far in, angle of course much crumpled.

1 Drawn in by middle & of course doubled & crumpled.

These broad papers are the stuff from other basal angles to go in hole.

Could cold weather have made worms work slovenly?

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_005]

March 4th after an absence in London — very cold & snow

(5)

Orchard

2 Broad by apex — not folded at apex

1 Broad by one of basal angles — very little way inverted

1 Broad by apex & terminal .8 of inch doubled

1 Broad doubled near middle — hardly drawn

Muddy field walk

1 Broad by 1 of basal angles 0 very little way in

1 do do moderately inverted

1 do by apex. terminal part rolled into

March 5th

Orchard

1 Broad by apex — only short way in

1 Broad by apex not folded, not very far in

1 Broad by apex as apex doubled for .8 if inch

1 Broad doubled in middle & folded — Field walk.

March 6th

Orchard walk

1 Broad by apex — tip from .8 inch doubled; basal angle perhaps had been doubled.

1 do by apex}

1 B by base} same hole

1 Broad by apex — only little way in hole

1 Broad by apex — tip from .25 inch rolled; basal angles not doubled

1 Broad by one of basal angles

Under School room earth

1 narrow by apex, tip from .85 doubled; whole part doubled over & half inverted

1 narrow by apex — terminal part crumpled; basal angles not doubled

1 do do — do do do do

[Darwin stayed with Henrietta in London from 24 February to 3 March 1881.]

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_006]

March 7th

(6)

Under Schoolroom in Earth

1 narrow by apex — tips doubled for .75 in inch basal angles not doubled

do 1 narrow by apex — straight — basal angle doubled

do 1 V do do — tip doubled for .4 inch

Under Arshia

1 x narrow — doubled up in middle & little inverted

do 1 V narrow by apex — little inverted — broad end gnawed.

do 1 (x) narrow broad end in hole

Under Laurels Old Paper

1 broad by apex, arched but base also doubled little in

do 1 do [broad by apex]

1 do by base

Orchard

1 Broad by apex, tip doubled .65 inch

1 do by near base

1 do by apex

1 V narrow by apex, but wound like spire round upper part of Hole

1 Broad folded in middle}

1 Broad by apex & by middle} same hole

1 Broad by apex

1 V narrow by apex — tip doubled for .95 inch.

1 Broad by ape tip doubled for .55 inch

1 do do — straight

1 do do tip doubled for .45 inch & base likewise doubled over hole (Orchard)

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_007]

March 8th

(7)

Orchard

1. narrow by base}

1 narrow by base}

1 Broad by apex — .8 of inch doubled} same hole

1 Broad by apex — only little in

1 narrow by apex, but base, also little in forming arch [sketch]

1 Broad by apex

March 10 Field walk Old paper

1 Broad by apex}z+ `

1 do by base} same hole

1 Broad by apex}

1 Broad by base} same hole

March 12 Under Schoolroom

1 n. V by apex, end gnawed off - basal angles not doubled or bent

1 B. by apex, double for .3 inch; basal a, dirtied, not doubled

1 B by apex do do basal a. clean, not doubled

1 n V by apex, a little crumpled basal a. do do

1 n. V by apex — doubled for .4 inch basal a. rather dirty; not doubled.

Under Laurel

1 B. by apex, & afterward basal part rolled into hole; basal angle not doubled or dirtied bent

1 B. by apex}

1 B. by base} old paper on walk

Orchard

1 nV by apex, tip doubled .9 inch, basal angle clean not bent

1 n. by middle, inverted only little way

1 B. by apex tip doubled for .2 inch & angled above; basal a. not bent or dirtied

1 B by apex, all basal part spirally wood round & inverted basal angle not bent

1 B. drawn in by both ends & thus doubled in middle, but not drawn in by

1 B by apex, basal angles dirtied & bent.

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_008]

March 13th

(8)

Schoolroom

1. nV by apex — doubled 1.1 inch — base not bent

1 n. by base, but also much doubled in longitudinally

Under Laurels 1 B. by basal angle

1 B. doubled near middle, but nearer apex; base not bent

1 B. by basal angle

Orchard

1. n.V by apex, doubled .3 inch — base clean not bent

1 B. folded transversely & drawn little in ie doubled

1 B by apex — base clean not bent Ilex [illeg] D

1 n. by apex, but 1.35 inch doubled, 11 many doubled by middle [erased] base not bent & clean

1 n.V by apex, but whole base drawn in & crumpled

1 n.V by apex, only little inverted, base dirtied, not bent

1 n. By base

1 nV by apex, doubled .7 inch, base not bent

1 nV by apex — only little inverted, base not bent & dirty

(one now had been drawn in by base, & so dirtied & then rejected & now going lower on surface)

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_009]

Note [garden]

March 14th

(9)

Gravel 1. n. by base

School room 1 V n. by apex — base not bent or dirty

orchard 1 n. by base

1 Vn. by apex, doubled .8 inch, base not bent or dirty

1 Vn. by apex, crumpled, but basal angles not bent

1 Vn. by apex, base not bent

1 B. by base (base at angles much crumpled & bent)

1 B by apex, base not bent, perfectly clean.

March 15

Near House 1 n. doubled

1 n. X by base

1 nV by apex — doubled .5 inch, base dirtied, not bent

1 n.V by apex — base dirtied, crumpled & almost all drawn into hole

1 n X by base

1 nV by apex, wholly drawn into hole

1 n.V by apex, tip .3 inch doubled, base not bent clean

1 B. by apex — tip .2 inch doubled, base dirty not bent

1 B. doubled, basal angles not bent.

March 16th 1 B by base — basal angles much crumpled.

1 B. by apex tip doubled for .6 inch; base not bent or dirty

2 n. X by base — bases much crumpled

1 n. X neat base, say by base

1 n. V by apex — doubled by 1 inch base dirty, not bent

1 nV by apex doubled .9 inch base not bent, not dirty.

 

[CUL-DAR65.65-74_010]

March 17th

(10)

1 n.V by tip, doubled for .3 inch base not bent, divg

1 nV by tip, tip gnawed off. base not bent, clean

1 22. by tip, but base, also doubled in, so may be called doubled by near middle for many have been drawn in first by base & afterwards tip drawn in to a greater depth than base

1 n. by base

1 nV by tip — base not bent, nearly clean

1 nV by tip doubled for .9 inch. base not bent, clean

1 nV by tip straight, base do do

1 nV by tip doubled for .5 inch, base not bent, quite clean

1 nV by tip, but base afterwards drawn spirally in: I think I may class this among tips

D 1 n. by tip doubled by 1.2 inch — base not bent, clean

1 n. by Base (much bent & crumpled)

1 n. V by tip doubled for .7 inch, base not bent, clean

1 n. V by tip doubled for .1 inch, base not bent, but dirty.

[CUL-DAR65.91-93_001]

March 18th

(11) 1 n. by middle

1 n. g base

1 B by apex — base possibly little bent at one angle

1 n V by apex — base not bent, clean

1 n. V by apex do do

1 n. V by apex — basal part somewhat drawn over hole, but basal angles not bent, a little dirty

Used

Yew Trees

1 n by base

1 n. by base

1 n V by apex, doubled .5 of inch, base not bent clean

1 n V by apex doubled .7 inch do do do

1 n. V by apex, about wholly drawn in & crumpled — basal angles not bent, not dirtied.

March 19th

1 n. by tip. doubled .5 inch — base not bent, but dirty

1 n by base.

March 20

1. vn by apex — straight — base not bent clean

1 vn. by apex twisted do do

1 vn. by apex, but whole apical part twisted — base not bent, clean

1 B. by base much angled

1 B by apex — almost drawn part in; one basal angle bent

[March] 22 1 vn. by apex base not bent, dirtied. V

[CUL-DAR65.91-93_002]

March 23

(12) 1 n. by apex}

1 n. by middle} old, triangle in & I can say nothing about basal angles

1 n. by base

March 24 1 nv by apex, base not bent

1 n doubled by middle

1 n by apex, but base also slightly doubled in [sketch]

1 n. doubled by middle

1 n do do

1 nv by apex but not bent dirty

1 nv by apex but not bent rather dirty — much rain

March 25

1 n by apex, base also drawn in, bent & dirtied

1 n by apex — base not bent nor dirty

1 n by base — V

All Narrow Triangles

Ap. 13th 2 drawn in by apex, but base afterwards drawn in almost completely: I think it would have been hardly possible for the worm to have drawn other 2 first in by base, as basal part wd in this case have been doubled.

Ap 14th 1 by base, can angle B

[Ap] 15 1 doubled by middle D

[Ap] 25 1 drawn by apex, & afterwards by one of base at angle

1 do, a basal angle not bent little O

1 by base. B (over)

[CUL-DAR65.91-93_003]

Ap 26th

Narrow triangle

(13) 2 by apex — basal angles not bent or dirtied

1 by base B

Ap 27 1 by base B

1 by apex, basal angles O not bent & clean

1 do — do ? doubled (Ap 27 14)

1 do basal angles not bent quite clean

Ap 28 Ground in following places properly watered last night

under School0room under-Laurels — walk in road

6 by apex 5 by base B 6 by middle 1 (19-2=17)

2 arched ie by tip & base [sketch] — to be excluded.

N.B. Of above 2 in same hole, one by apex & by base

Ap 29 2 doubled

X 3 by apex — basal angles not bent nor dirty

X 1 by apex do do — but dirty.

Ap 30 X 7 by apex — of these, 2 afterwards draw in by base. 4 with basal angles not bent, but 1 with base dirtied.

3 by middle

1 by base.

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR65.91-93_004]

May 1st 1881 Narrow triangles of paper

(14) 2 arched [sketch] (not to be counted)

1 by base 1 by apex} same hole

2 by base B 4 by apex

May 2d 3 by base B 3 by apex — (in one above it cd be told that basal angles not bent) O

[CUL-DAR65.94-95_001]

(Intestinal canal of earth-worm copied from E. Ray Lankester.)

This intestinal canal is a delicate object & must be engraved lightly, with a little shading — it is almost cylindrical.

[CUL-DAR65.94-95_002]

Fig 1

[Parts of the worm]

not to be copied

Blotter to be as close &c no writing

Quart: Journ. of Mic. Sc. vol. iv. N.S. pl 1

(see over)

[CUL-DAR65.94-95_003]

Fig 1

[annotated drawing]

This medial line to be erased, it was put in to aid in drawing 

outlines too hard. ─ of these 6 glands

dele the organ looking too much bilobed

dele as I have what you have copied was a mere blemish in drawing.

[Earthworms, p. 18, note: "Diagram of the alimentary canal of an earthworm (Lumbricus), copied from Ray Lankester in 'Quart. Journ. of Microscop. Soc.' vol. xv. N.S. pl. vii."]

[CUL-DAR65.96-98_001]

Fig 2. From Nice

[Earthworms, Fig. 2, p. 107: Tower-like casting from near Nice, constructed of earth, voided probably by a species of Perichæta: of natural size, copied from a photograph.]

[CUL-DAR65.96-98_002]

Fig 3. From Bengal

[Earthworms, Fig. 3, p. 124: A tower-like casting, probably ejected by a species of Perichæta, from the Botanic Garden, Calcutta: of natural size, engraved from a photograph.]

[CUL-DAR65.96-98_003]

Fig 4. Nilgiri

[Earthworms, Fig. 4, p. 127: A casting from the Nilgiri Mountains in South India; of natural size, engraved from a photograph.]

Apparently this casting adhered obliquely to mountains side but this will be important to show. The casting might be a little embedded in ground — shading

[CUL-DAR65.126]

the worms their intestinal canal, as Morren remarks (p. 16) in "impleta tenuissimâ terrâ veluti in pulverem redacta"; & that which is voided is so well mixed with some secretion that it is rendered viscid & when dried gets into hard little mosses.

[C. F. Morren, De Lumbrici terrestris, 1829.]

[CUL-DAR65.127]

* Dr. E. Ray Lankester first described with care & figured three pairs of remarkable calciferous glands: see his paper "The anatomy of the Earth worm", Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science vol IV new series 1864 p. 265.

(I think Morren first)

350 rings in a well-grown worm p. 268

Muscular pharynx — oryx — gizzard — calciferous glands

[CUL-DAR65.84]

[4 February-17 March 1881]

Narrow Triangles / Broad Triangles

[Tables and dates]

[CUL-DAR65.89-90_001]

[3 February-13 March 1881]

Broad Triangles / Narrow Triangles

[Tables and dates]

[CUL-DAR65.89-90_002]

[14-25 March 1881]

Broad Triangles / Narrow Triangles

[Tables and dates]

[CUL-DAR65.64_001]

Feb 20th

103 triangles drawn into Burrows. 18 drawn in by middle, leaving 85 drawn in by one of the 3 angles. Now 64 drawn in by apex, 21 by one of the 2 basal & obtuse angles or an average 1 1/2 by each basal angle. [sketch]

Feb 21st Galton insisted much on organisation of showing that they do not seize hold of the apical angle at some distance from apex — I must say actual apex, or say near it, for as they drag the paper over the horizontal ground & then have to turn perpendicularly drawn into the burrow, the first part beyond the mouths now is very likely they doubled up, & thus as in I could judge does not occur often — Galton asked how that they cd judge of shape of object, for which I have seen of their behavior will learn. I do not believe that they crawl in close contact over which object, but track it in many places with the

[Darwin was in London during February and March 1881 when he spoke to Francis Galton.]

[CUL-DAR65.64_002]

ant. end of body, which as already remarked seems to sense as an organ of touch. We shd remember how quaintly perfect touch became in man, when he is deprived of other senses, as is to case of a worm.

[CUL-DAR65.76_001]

March 1881

Beachy Head on inland side

[annotated sketch of slope] angle about 25°

thickness of mould 3 1/2 to 5

here tuft

thickness of mould on a large patch where there are no tufts 2 1/4 to 3 inches

mould here

here tuft

thickness of mould 4 to 5 inches taking average of 9 tufts — average thickness of mould about 4.5 inches — and thickness of mould at same levels on each side 3.3 on left and 3.75 on right average thickness of 5 measurements just above & below tufts is 3.1

Length of little ledge for a few inches to 2 or 3 ft in length — Horizontal with course grass sticking up in tufts

Triangling

[Darwin in Earthworms, pp. 280-281, wrote "Another of my sons [Francis] observed, on the inland side of Beachy Head, where the surface sloped at about 25°, many short little embankments like those just mentioned.]

[CUL-DAR65.76_002]

In lower part signs of both embankments by walked along by sheep fairly plain but in upper part of Hill — no signs of in many cases on the shallow embankments.

[CUL-DAR65.79]

March 1st [1881] W. Hackhurst

Soil 8 inches deep. A layer of flints 2 inches below soil. Large piece of chalk taken from just below the flint, smaller piece 16 inches from surface.

This large piece consisted of fragments of white chalk, found together by slightly discoloured chalk apparently reaggregated

[Observation sent by Laura Forster?]

[CUL-DAR65.43]

March 6 81

Torrents of Rain last night — walks everywhere with innumerable worm-tracks.

[CUL-DAR65.55_001]

March 6 1881

I have been trying repeatedly with fine pincers drawing narrow triangles of dry & damp paper into cylindrical hole of about size of worm-burrow, & the triangles were seized at all points & in all direction with might to great length longer angles of triangles — when seized they were doubled up at that point — so that if seized near to middle they wd be called doubled in worm burrow — if near apex the terminal part was darker — so if near bases — The side point which was clean this above seized when near to base they were very difficult to draw in, & were

[CUL-DAR65.55_002]

were much easier when seized by one of basal angles or by narrow base between these angles. It is an almost invariable rule when worms have dragged trash in by base, they are dragged in for very short distance comparable to what occur with the apex.

[CUL-DAR65.56-57_001]

March 6th 81

Worms in confinement Triangles of Paper

10˚Pm Saw worm dragging broad triangle by suction near base — also taking ends into mouth also engulfing whole apex. Tried often to drag one in by basal angles or by whole base into hole; did not succeed; — then tried a distant triangle & took whole apex into mouth & draw it quickly towards hole; then fixed itself a little way from apex & dragged it short way into hole, then ceased walking & drew another broad triangle short way in by one of basal angle — Then returned to former one & drew it some way in by apex & by next morning deeply & straight in. Saw another worm take another broad triangle by apex into mouth & drew it some way quickly into hole. by next morning deeply in mould — I rather suspect that they try many ways, but seem to know when they have seized a favorable part, as in case of Pine-leaves. I doubt about leaving general shape. After trying in several ways they apparently soon learn which is best way.

March 7th I have been watching the worms in both pots; they seem to touch & drag a little the several triangles by mere chance — none were dragged close to burrows. I have now seen one after pulling at apex, reject it & pull broad triangle, little way in by exact middle.

[CUL-DAR65.56-57_002]

March 8th

(2)

Pot I narrow triangle, one drawn in exactly middle, & worm adhered by suction the middle; but this triangle had previously been attempted by many basal angles, which was much bent & dirtied.

In Pot II narrow triangle drawn in by middle, & afterwards drawn quite beneath surface

In Pot I a 2d worm pulled the triangle out of the hole by near the middle, & then seized it near the apex & drew it into the burrow apex downwards

Saw worm in Pot I seize triangle by near apex drop it, pass on & seize another near base, then in middle & then by base & then drop it — a second worm seized triangle by middle & drew it little way — In Pot II — worm seized paper by middle & drew it little way, then dropped it, afterward seized it by middle & drew it into hole — All goes by chance — Earth very soft.

[CUL-DAR65.44-44v_001]

William in letter dated March 13 1881 says he has looked at 29 more Rhododendron leaves & 18 were drawn in by base & 11 by tip or apex. Rhododendron Leaves

[CUL-DAR65.44-44v_002]

Rhododendron

By base 43 [+] 18 [=] 60 By apex 20 [+] 11 [=] 31 Total 60 [+] 31 [=] 91

By base 60/91 = per cent 65.93

31/91 — per cent 34.06

[CUL-DAR65.44r]

* footnote p. 47

This fact probably explains why common vegetable mould, which has all passed through the bodies of worms is not commonly acid, as far as I have observed. But in one part of my lawn, which part is not well drained & when moss & daisies chiefly grow, the mould was distinctly acid. I presume that the decomposition of the humus acids had been here checked by air not having had free access

[CUL-DAR65.45]

Tips cemented

Far from pines where free leaves had lately been swallowed} By base 72 By apex 10

Under — Beech twig & under [illeg] cherry

Far from pines where no leaves had been laid} [By base] 36 [By apex] 3

K. Garden walk & under School Run

[Total by base] 108

[Total by apex] 13

108 [+] 13 [=] 121

Tips tied together with thread [By base] 77 [By apex] 20

Nearly 4 times as many

Total [by base] 185

Total [by apex] 33

121 [+] 218 [=] 339

185 [+] 33 [=] 218

185 [÷] 218 = 85 per cent of leaves tied & cemented together

33 [÷] 218 = 15 per cent

[CUL-DAR65.46_001]

(1)

Introdn p. 3 alteration at X

Ch I p 1 line 1

Earthworms, which form the subdivision terricola of the Oligochæta, consists of several genera distributed throughout the world & externally closely similar to one another.

p 3 (bottom Rt side) — would it be more correct to put in "usually" as you say in p 4 that they do leave their burrows

p 5 (x) (Rt side high up) — small ink correction

p 6 (bottom) In your sentence (beginning p 6) the words "on repeatedly looking" &c do not fit into the worms not being alarmed

p 7 (top) insert "yet"

p 7 — near top — ink correction

p 11 (Rt side middle) It seemed ungrammatical without this correction

p 14 (near top) X My correction seems much simpler

p 15 speak about two corrections near top —

p 15 X Near bottom rt side, I think "into the stem of roots" comes in very awkwardly & might be deled

I think your argument wants a "however," and to be made a separate sentence

[CUL-DAR65.54]

Worms in confinement triangles of Paper in same burrow

2 by apex

2 by near middle

{1 by base}

{1 by middle}

by apex & base

by apex & base

(5 cases)

"Those 10 out of 63 drawn in same manner

In 5 of the drawn 2 thought had been drawn in"

[CUL-DAR65.60-63_001]

March 4 1881

(1)

Narrow Triangles of Paper — Worms in Pots

Pot I 3 drawn in all angled into balls. I believe 2 by base & 1 by apex.

Pot II 1 by apex terminal inch doubled}

1 by apex — terminal inch doubled} in same hole

1 by apex much crumpled

1 by base

March 5 Pot II 1 by tip not doubled

Pot I by apex — doubled from 1 1/4 inch from apex}

by apex doubled at 1 3/4 inch from apex} same burrow

by base & much doubled

Mar 6 Pot I all drawn: 1 doubled by middle & hardly drawn in

II 2 drawn in by base, & a 3d not drawn in, bur had been doubled in middle

Worm work in slovenly manner in confinement.

March 7th Pot I 1 narrow by apex 1.3 at tip doubled

Pot II They gnaw tips of paper

1 Broad by apex not at all doubled, basal angles dirtied (3) but not bent, & this was 1 which I saw worm first trying to invert by basal angles & whole base

1 Broad by apex — tip not doubled, but crumpled, partly due to hole not being straight; basal angles a little dirtied

1 Broad inverted short way by one of the basal angles in same hole as (3). These narrow triangles quite hidden in depth & disappeared: one was drawn by apex.

[CUL-DAR65.60-63_002]

March 8th

(2)

Worm in Pots

Pot I 1 Broad by apex little doubled basal angles clean

1 B. by base — little in

D 1 B by apex — 1.2 of tip doubled

Pot II 1 Broad by base — (one entering disappeared I suppose narrow)

March 9th Pot II all crumpled & going on surface, yet last night other paper were seen to drag the triangle into burrows

Pot II see last night

1 in by base}

1 doubled by middle} same Hole

1 had been drawn in in & lost to view, had been drawn in in by middle

How differently these worms behave to those in a state of nature

March 10 9 Last evening whole surface of base Pots round with layer of gravel, passed down, so as to make the drawing in of the triangle not so easy

Pot I 1 very little in by apex

1 by base & base doubled

1 by apex but tip an inch doubled}

1 by base} same hole

Pot II 1 by middle

1 by base, & then by middle & much crumpled

March 11th Pot I 2 by tips 1 by base 2 others [2 words illeg] mauled but not in any [illeg]

Pot II None in burrows, but 2 much mauled about & dirtied

[CUL-DAR65.60-63_003]

March 12th

(3)

Narrow Triangles given to worms in Pots — soil pored with gravel

Pot I 1 by base} 1 by apex} same hole

1 rolled many in middle, nearer to base one has quite disappeared

Pot II none drawn in

March 13 Pot 1

1 by apex

1 rolled longitudinally to hole

1 1 doubled transversely to hole

two others dirtied not drawn in

Pot II 1 by apex

1 all angled up into ball I think entered by apex

March 15th Pot 1 1 By base Pot II 1 by tip, 1 by base, & 1 doubled

M. 16 Pot I 1 by apex

M. 17 Pot I 1 by apex

18 Pot II — 1 by apex, 1 doubled in middle

19 Pot I 2 by apex & some lost Pot II 2 by base & 1 by apex

[CUL-DAR65.60-63_004]

March 25th

Worm in confinement Triangles of Paper

Pot I 1 n} 1 B} by apex 1 lost

Pot II 1n by base.

26 Pot I 1 B by base

27 Pot I 1 B & 1 n by apex Pot II 1 n doubled by middle

[CUL-DAR65.52-53_001]

[4-27 March 1881]

Drawing in of Leaves & Triangles into Burrows

[CUL-DAR65.52-53_002]

[Table of figures 4-27 March 1881]

Triangles slowest drawn in by worms in Pots Divided into 3 equal parts

Narrow Triangles Broad triangles

[CUL-DAR65.52-53_003]

[Dates and figures 17-19 March 1881]

8 aided [to] not aided

Two in same hole

Feb 19 2 n. in same hole both by apex

March 6 2B [do] one by base & one by apex

[March] 7 2B [do] one by apex & ny middle

[March] 8 1N & 1B same hole. N by apex B by base

[March] 10 2B one by apex ^ one by base

- 2B one by apex & one by base

in 6 instances — & in 5 of those 2 drawn in different ways — ie Drawn 5 by apex & the other by base or in one case by middle)

Spirally wood

March 4 1B

[March] 7 1N

[March] 12 1B

[March] 17 1N

[March] 20 1N

5 cases having some had removed.

[CUL-DAR65.52-53_004]

I have called them double sized by about middle which; but not always measured, as that the basal & apical ends were strictly out of hole.

[Dates and figures 21 February-16 March 1881]

This has been done

Just put 2 from those drawn in by apex & added to doubled ones.

[CUL-DAR65.58-59_001]

March 20/81/

(1)

Several narrow & broad which had been drawn by base into burrow, had whole base or one corner much bent — Then were left for some hours in with & then repeatedly shaken beneath the wetter, by the few worms not thus attracted & when dried were strongly bent, though not so much as at first — Even passing them repeatedly with some force between 2 fingers under water did not straighten them, except in one when the flower had been at first very slight — The dirt, owing to slime from worm's body adhered pertinaciously.

Therefore a proportion of them drawn in by apex with any trace of bent base is very small we may feel sun this worm do not draw in the [triangle] by any angle & then reject those which will not go in with. But for analogy of leaves & what I saw with [triangles] it is probable that they

[CUL-DAR65.58-59_002]

(2)

draw them into any way to near burrows & then perceive by trench which is bent in the end or gently try to insert them & if they will not go in wall (& then will apply the petiole end of leaves) try some other methods. The latter contingency is the most probable; but even this shows intelligence, for generally the ordinary & instructive actions of most animals are passed in the most senseless manner — Thus — ants (worm wiser than Sphex)

I have said intelligence — give [illeg] — Romanes

I think first abstract of all the cases, without saying about how a man wd prefer to work & the reason on the cases.

[CUL-DAR65.58-59_003]

N.B when the base clear, as well as not bent it shows that the basal part cannot even have been tried in mouth of burrow — when dirty it does not from this its has been tried, for many have been thus many dragged to near burrow.

[CUL-DAR65.88_001]

March 22 Total

Broad

By apex	By base	By middle
40	15	12
28	9	5
4	2	1
72	26	18
		2 March 18

Narrow

By apex	By base	By middle
30	13	1
17	5	2
32	14	3
79	32	6
		4 March 18

72 [+] 26 [+] 18 [+] 79 [+] 32 [+] 6 [=] 233

[CUL-DAR65.88_002]

March 31. 1881 [Count] Summary

Broad Triangles

Drawn by apical portion	By basal portion	By middle coming upwards	Arched & to be rejected
71	30	19	4
Narrow 84	23	16	4
Grand total 155	53	35	8
or	53 + 35 = 88
155

Total drawn in 155 [+] 53 [+] 35 [=] 243 drawn in [illeg] to by double over

Narrow Triangles

By Apex	By base	By middle	Arched & to be rejected
	71	84
	30	23
	19	16
	120	123
Narrow or 84	23+14=39

If drawn in by chance 81 wd have been drawn in by apical end or 33.3 percent

[calculations not transcribed]

[CUL-DAR65.82]

Results to correct M.S on Triangles of Paper — All relative to narrow triangles — for correcting the Press

I must add 4 arched ie with correcting upwards & so not counted: 2 pairs in same hole, one by apex & one by base. Eleven drawn in by apex with basal angles not bent but 2 of them with base directed that was I doubled case whether angles had been bent.

54 [+] 11 [=] 65

65 [+] 24 [=] 89

71 [+] 11 [=] 82

Proportion of narrow triangles to broad triangles drawn into burrow is as 183 to 120 better give them real figures 66 or as 100 to 65.6

183 [+] 120 [=] 303

I may now say that out of 78+11 = 89 drawn in by apex

71+11 = 82 had not basal angles bent (though the bases of 14 were directed, & only 7 had basal angles bent, as if worm had first tried to draw them in by force.

Of all (narrow & broad together triangle —

62.4 percent (or 62) drawn in by apex

22.8 (or 23) percent [do] by base

14.9 (or 15) percent [do] by middle

So that those drawn in by apex far exceed those drawn in by base & middle together

59 [+] 25 [+] 16

Of the narrow triangle alone -

65 percent drawn in by apex

21 percent [do] by Base

14 percent [do] by middle

Nearly twice as many drawn in by apex, as by base & middle together

21 [x] 3 [=] 63

21 [x] 3 [=] 63

[CUL-DAR65.46_002]

Pots placed out of doors & covered with fern rot& all drawn in by base

56 to be added to my numbers

56 [+] 16 [=] 2

In pots out of doors — tips out off for length of about 1 inch

57 drawn in all by base — (omit the former 8)

Pine leaves scattered from here only pine tree

50 drawn in by base 1 little way by apex added their numbers to my total.

[CUL-DAR65.83_001]

March 26th Summary about the reading of basal angles of Triangles.

narrow triangles	Not bent nor dirtied	not bent but dirty	Bent, & generally more or less dirty
narrow triangle	41	8	5
Broad Triangles	18	4	2
	59 [+] 12 [=] 71	12	7

41 [+] 8 [+] 5 [=] 54

(19) [+] 59 [=] 78

I may say out of 78 triangles drawn in by apex 71 had not base at all bent, (that in base of 12 were somewhat dirtied) & only 7 have had base at all bent as if worm had first tried to draw in by base. This is conclusion that worms did not try first by base.

[CUL-DAR65.83_002]

59 clean + 18 dirtied

78 [÷] 3 [=] 26

78 [-] 6 [0] [=] 18

[CUL-DAR65.77,78a,78b_001]

1)

Ap 3/81/ Lewes Ridges

Above where the Eastbourne Rd leaves the town — very steep bit of down, angle 40˚ About 30 ridges stretching nearly horizontal for long distance certainly more than 100 yds. Each ridge is like a step consisting of a flat bare piece of earth bordered by a line of strong coarse grass [sketch] . The bare piece is 5 or 6 inches wide; the whole width if the step including the bare place and the tuft of grass is 9 or 10 inches. The ridges are somewhat sinuous ie not absolutely horizontal; and often run into one another which gives the appearance of one ridge forking into two. When measured from one line of grass to the next the distance apart of average ones was about 20 inch

Three sections were made: in No. 1, I dug down 13 or 14 inches & did not reach the solid chalk. Only pale coloured soil full of small pieces of chalk-Close under the surface was a layer about 5 inches thick, of fine textured earth without bits of chalk. In No 2 there was 9 in of soil on the chalk where a ridge was, and

[sketch]

[CUL-DAR65.77,78a,78b_002]

2)

only 4 inch a little higher up the slope. In section (3) the same general state of things was found [sketch]

It is evident that bits of chalk rolling down are frequently caught on the ledges, and the strong fringe of grass would ensure the ledges catching anything that rolled down. The bare part of the ledges are covered with loose little bits of earth which look like disintegrated castings, but I saw very few with any rounded outline like fresh castings — Saw several pieces of dry sheep dung in the ledges; the ledges had not a worn trodden look. The girl at the public house below said sheep came there.

At one end of the bank the chalk gets nearer the surface so that one sees "rocks" of chalk projecting and the grass gets scantier, here the ledges got much more irregular. At the other end of the bank it becomes rather

[CUL-DAR65.77,78a,78b_003]

3)

rapidly less steep, and here the ridges cease rather abruptly; the coarse grass which marks the ledges where they are distinct, becomes less conspicuous, and is irregularly distributed instead of being in lines; or makes little ledges a foot or two long. Below this place the slope again gets steeper and the ledges again become regular.

[CUL-DAR65.80]

April 24th 1881 — Rain last night after long dry weather a good many tracks.

May 1st innumerable tracks — probably wd be F. during 2 remaining months after wet nights.

Addendum

(In removing rubbish one mouth of burrows suddenly I have in incessantly seen the end of the worm body retracting rapidly.)

[CUL-DAR65.47-48_004]

Leaves of Pinus austriaca & nigricans with extreme tips cemented to paths by shell-lac

April 29 scattered under Beech trees — ground watered

[CUL-DAR65.49_001]

Leaves of Pinus austriaca or nigricans with tips of 2 needles of each cemented together with shell-lac — Ground watered

Far from Pine-tree, not where free leaves had lately been scattered. so that worms may have really learnt how to bury them

Under Beech-tree

By Base

	By Base	By apex
Ap 30	15	1
May 1	8	1
[May] 2	10
[total]	33	2
	39	6
	72	4
		10 [total]

At foot of mouth-cherry — same remarks as above

	By Base	By apex
Ap 30	12	1
May 1	9	2
[May] 2	2	1
3	4
4	1
5	3
6	2
8	5
9	1
[total]	39

(over)

[CUL-DAR65.49_002]

Leaves of Pinus austriaca & nigricans with tips cemented [with] shell-lac, laid on ground where no leaves cd have naturally fallen had be artificially placed.

May 3d Kitchen garden walk

	By Base	By apex
May 3d	4	0
[May 4]	1	0
4th	1	1 in same hole
	1	{under schoolroom}
5th	8 K. G
5th	2 School R.	1 School R.
6	4 K. G	2 [total]
-	2 school room
7th	2 K. Garden
-	4 under school-room
8th	4 K. Garden
9	G	1
10 & 11	3
[total]	36	3

(over)

[CUL-DAR65.50-51_001]

1881

Pinus, Leaves with tips tied together line waxed

Thread

8th [May]

Drawn in by Base	Drawn in by apex
2 K. Garden	0
1 Sand-Walk	0
2 do	0
5 K. Garden	3
3 Lime-trees	0
11 School room	1
3 K. Garden 3	2 (1 of them double omit)
2 S, Walk	0
9th [May]
4 Under Laurels	2
11 School-room	3
1 K. Garden	0
(45)
10th [May]
9 School-room	3
11th [May]
11 do Laurels	3
11th [May]
12	4
[total] 77	20

 

[CUL-DAR65.50-51_002]

May 13 1881

Pine leaves tips tied — old schoolroom

[Dates and figures 13-20 May 1881]

By base	By apex
May 13 9	2
14 1	2
15 5	1
16 2	0
17 10	1
18 4	0
19 8	1
20 7	0
[total] 46	7

46 [+] 7 [=] 53

46 [+] 77 [=] 123 [+] 108 [=] 231

7 [+] 20 [=] 27 [+] 123 [=] 150 [+] 121 Total 271

[CUL-DAR64.2.107]

[25-26 May 1881]

Hensen of Kiel tells me that P. E. Müller has published on the work of worms in Tidsskrift for Skovbrug B III I & LL Heft — Copenhagen 1878 in

(I supposed name of article)

"Studier over Skovjord" (Walderde)

[Francis Darwin:] corrected in 7th [thousand] FD June 8/82

[Francis Darwin added the following note Earthworms, 7th thousand, p. 7: "My father's attention was called by Professor Hensen to P. E. Müller's work on Earthworms in 'Tidsskrift for Skovbourg,' Band iii. Heft 1 and 2, Copenhagen, 1878. He had, however, no opportunity of consulting Müller's work.—F. D."]

[CUL-DAR64.2.108_001]

With E. Ray Lankester's sincere regards: Worms in Kerguelen Land

[Edwin Ray Lankester (1847-1929). Zoologist and evolutionary biologist, sent his paper on Terrestrial Annelida, CUL-DAR64.2.108_002-006]

[CUL-DAR64.2.108_008]

on the Distribution of worms in different districts.

Hensen says on Capri Isd.

[CUL-DAR65.85-87_001]

May 1881

Used All Triangles [calculations]

[CUL-DAR65.85-87_002]

All Triangles together [calculations]

[CUL-DAR65.85-87_003]

May 3d 1881

Narrow triangles to be added

Used

[calculations]

[CUL-DAR64.2.97-98_001]

[Letter dated 30 November 1881: B. A. Irving to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.97-98_002]

[Letter dated 30 November 1881: B. A. Irving to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.97-98_003]

[Letter dated 30 November 1881: B. A. Irving to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.99-100_001]

[Letter dated 11 March 1882: George Crawte to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.99-100_002]

[Letter dated 11 March 1882: George Crawte to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.99-100_003]

[Letter dated 11 March 1882: George Crawte to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.99-100_004]

[Letter dated 11 March 1882: George Crawte to Darwin]

[CUL-DAR64.2.101-102_001]

[Letter from J. Niven to Francis Darwin]

March 12/82

Nellcol Villa

Queens Road

Albert Park

Didsbury

Manchester

Dear Sir

In reading your father's wonderful book on worms, I was very much struck with the account of the intelligence shown by worms. You will remember the part where the worms block their burrows with double spines of fir, dragging them in by the part where the two leaves join

[CUL-DAR64.2.101-102_002]

and persist in doing so after the tips have been fastened together.

In the species most common about here, the spines are rough on one side when rubbed from tip to the junction of the two, comparatively smoother when rubbed from the junction to the tips. Whether this is so generally or not I don't know but with these spines the tactile sensibility of worms, and their

[CUL-DAR64.2.101-102_003]

experience in locomotion might determine the choice to some extent. This is scarcely worth mentioning and I have little doubt it has been noticed and considered insufficient. However I thought that on the new principle of de minimis lex currant I shd mention it to you.

Yours truly

J. Niven

[CUL-DAR64.2.103]

[Letter dated 18 March 1882, J. F. Simpson to Darwin]

59 Norfolk Terrace

Bayswater W.

Mar 18. 1882

Dear Sir

I ought perhaps to apologise for my present intrusion especially remembering your remarks in your last kind communication. The reference however I hope may be made, even if there ended finally. It is in relation to worms. In recently clearing out my little garden I reserved two (as I imagine) unique ""castings"". The larger one however is falling to pieces notwithstdg having steeped it in gum solution. Its height I make still = 2 inches (some having—naturally crumbled away) with diam: = 21/2 ins about. In your work, I find the extraordinary ones of Figs 2. 3 & 4 to measure respectively in heights 25/8ths, 31/2, & 2 inches. The one I have by me therefore seems very large. Excuse my naming this little fact to you & with respectful Compts.

Believe me yours faithfully

J. F. Simpson

To Dr Darwin F.R.S.

[CUL-DAR64.2.106]

March 22d 1882

Worms have collected heaps of stones to unparalleled extent open wetter & new leaves —

The walk covered with tracks — In orchard in 1 spot 8 lines right over same spot which I cannot understand — no hole here — some [illeg] this one worm or more progress very slowly rolling cinder of 3 1/2 inches in diameter; & then cinder were so close, that 10 worms crossed in [distance] of 8 miles & then the cinders became much too [illeg] I count [2 words illeg]

[sketch]

inches about 3 1/2 inches in so they ought to have be drawn larger

[Emma Darwin recorded in her diary "odious storm" on 22 March and that Darwin was "out a good deal" a day after.]