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Darwin Correspondence Project

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

1
Taylor had sent CD comments and questions after reading Earthworms (see letter from J. P. Taylor, 14 November 1881). CD had not discussed earthworm reproduction and gave only a brief description of their anatomy (Earthworms, pp. 17–19). Earthworms lay eggs within a protective capsule or cocoon; the number of eggs varies among species, but most have one egg per cocoon. The cocoon is produced when the skin of the clitellum (saddle-like ring) sloughs off, capturing fertilised eggs and creating an egg sac.
2
CD mentioned that earth was brought to the surface by ants and other burrowing insects, and by moles; he also noted that large amounts of dust were deposited by wind in dry countries, and by traffic on busy roads (see Earthworms, pp. 172, 175, 236–9).

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 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13487A.xml

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