RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1872. [Earthworm research notes]. CUL-DAR64.1.5. 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.
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".]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 July, 2025