RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1880. [Earthworm research notes]. CUL-DAR64.1.47. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Prepared and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR64.1 contains material for Earthworms, experiments on worms; different locales & photographs and cuttings from journals. All of the textual items in these folders, including this one, have been transcribed in a single file: CUL-DAR63-65.
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 their pleasure in eating overcomes their fear. In either case we have I think some evidence of consciousness. — Sexual passion will also keep them out of their holes, then Hoffmeister says they rather [illeg] & [illeg] after it is light, which no other excitement will do. —
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 July, 2025