e;" in my index there
are only the few enclosed and quite insignificant references having any
relation to the minds of animals. When I returned to my work, I found
that I had nearly completed my statement of facts about worms plugging
up their burrows with leaves (548/1. Chapter II., of "The Formation
of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms," 1881, contains a
discussion on the intelligence shown by worms in the manner of plugging
up their burrows with leaves (pages 78 et seq.).), etc., etc., so I
waited until I had naturally to draw up a few concluding remarks. I hope
that it will not bore you to read the few accompanying pages, and in the
middle you will find a few sentences with a sort of definition of, or
rather discussion on, intelligence. I am altogether dissatisfied with
it. I tried to observe what passed in my own mind when I did the work
of a worm. If I come across a professed metaphysician, I will ask him
to give me a more technical definition, with a few big words about the
abstract, the concrete, the absolute, and the infinite; but seriously, I
should be grateful for any suggestions, for it will hardly do to assume
that every fool knows what "intelligent" means. (548/2. "Mr. Romanes,
who has specially studied the minds of animals, believes that we can
safely infer intelligence only when we see an individual profiting
by its own experience...Now, if worms try to drag objects into their
burrows, first in one way and then in another, until they at last
succeed, they profit, at least in each particular instance, by
experience" ("The Formation of Vegetable Mould," 1881, page 95).) You
will understand that the MS. is only the first rough copy, and will need
much correction. Please return it, for I have no other copy--only a few
memoranda. When I think how it has bothered me to know what I mean by
"intelligent," I am sorry for you in your great work on the minds of
animals.

I daresay that I shall have to alter wholly the MS.

LETTER 549. TO FRANCIS GALTON. Down, March 8th [1881].

Very many thanks for your note. I have been observing the [worm] tracks
on my walks for several months, and they occur (or can be seen) only
after heavy rain. As I know that worms which are going to die (generally
from the parasitic larva of a fly) always come out of their burrows,
I have looked out during these months, and have usually found in the
morning only from one to three or four along the whole length of my
walks. On