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Oct 7th 1880

Worms drawing 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

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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.

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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.

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All this shows more sense or intent ie. inherited habit these could have been anticipated in each lowly organised creatures.