given together, the latter were always, and manifestly preferred. Leaves
of the cabbage, lime-tree, Ampelopsis, parsnip (Pastinaca), and celery
(Apium) were likewise given together; and those of the celery were first
eaten. But when leaves of cabbage, turnip, beet, celery, wild cherry and
carrots were given together, the two latter kinds, especially those of
the carrot, were preferred to all the others, including those of celery.
It was also manifest after many trials that wild cherry leaves were
greatly preferred to those of the lime-tree and hazel (Corylus).
According to Mr. Bridgman the half-decayed leaves of _Phlox verna_ are
particularly liked by worms. {31}
Pieces of the leaves of cabbage, turnip, horse-radish and onion were left
on the pots during 22 days, and were all attacked and had to be renewed;
but during the whole of this time leaves of an Artemisia and of the
culinary sage, thyme and mint, mingled with the above leaves, were quite
neglected excepting those of the mint, which were occasionally and very
slightly nibbled. These latter four kinds of leaves do not differ in
texture in a manner which could make them disagreeable to worms; they all
have a strong taste, but so have the four first mentioned kinds of
leaves; and the wide difference in the result must be attributed to a
preference by the worms for one taste over another.
_Mental Qualities_. There is little to be said on this head. We have
seen that worms are timid. It may be doubted whether they suffer as much
pain when injured, as they seem to express by their contortions. Judging
by their eagerness for certain kinds of food, they must enjoy the
pleasure of eating. Their sexual passion is strong enough to overcome
for a time their dread of light. They perhaps have a trace of social
feeling, for they are not disturbed by crawling over each other s bodies,
and they sometimes lie in contact. According to Hoffmeister they pass
the winter either singly or rolled up with others into a ball at the
bottom of their burrows. {32} Although worms are so remarkably deficient
in the several sense-organs, this does not necessarily preclude
intelligence, as we know from such cases as those of Laura Bridgman; and
we have seen that when their attention is engaged, they neglect
impressions to which they would otherwise have attended; and attention
indicates the presence of a mind of some kind. They are also much more
easily excited at certain times than at others. They perform a few
actions instinctively, that is, all the individuals, including the young,
perform such actions in nearly the same fashion. This is shown by the
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