To J. P. Taylor 16 November 1881
Down, Beckenham, Kent,
16 November, 1881
[…] Worms are hermaphrodites & pair, but it is not at all likely that the same individuals unite a second time.— They lay their eggs in capsules, in which the young are hatched: I do not know (but it probably is known) how many eggs & capsules the same worm lays & forms1 […] If you shd. ever read my book with care you will find that I have noticed the action of ants, beetles & moles—also about dust2 […] The ashes of plants are derived from the soil, & the carbonaceous matter oxidises & disappears in the course of time, except when the land is waterlogged & then peat is formed
Footnotes
Bibliography
Earthworms: The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1881.
Summary
Elaborates on the theories propounded in his recently published work [Earthworms], describing the reproductive system of worms and the absorption of organic matter in the soil. [See 13483.]
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13487A
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Pitt Taylor
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Christie’s (dealers) (28 March 1984)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13487A,” accessed on 29 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13487A.xml