54

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

54V

I tried again with green light, no influence.