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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 &

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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.

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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)

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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.)