第 3 节
作者:猜火车      更新:2021-02-24 23:33      字数:9322
  intestine; by which means an extensive absorbent surface is gained。
  The circulatory system is well developed。  Worms breathe by their
  skin; as they do not possess any special respiratory organs。  The
  two sexes are united in the same individual; but two individuals
  pair together。  The nervous system is fairly well developed; and
  the two almost confluent cerebral ganglia are situated very near to
  the anterior end of the body。
  Senses。Worms are destitute of eyes; and at first I thought that
  they were quite insensible to light; for those kept in confinement
  were repeatedly observed by the aid of a candle; and others out of
  doors by the aid of a lantern; yet they were rarely alarmed;
  although extremely timid animals。  Other persons have found no
  difficulty in observing worms at night by the same means。 {14}
  Hoffmeister; however; states {15} that worms; with the exception of
  a few individuals; are extremely sensitive to light; but he admits
  that in most cases a certain time is requisite for its action。
  These statements led me to watch on many successive nights worms
  kept in pots; which were protected from currents of air by means of
  glass plates。  The pots were approached very gently; in order that
  no vibration of the floor should be caused。  When under these
  circumstances worms were illuminated by a bull's…eye lantern having
  slides of dark red and blue glass; which intercepted so much light
  that they could be seen only with some difficulty; they were not at
  all affected by this amount of light; however long they were
  exposed to it。  The light; as far as I could judge; was brighter
  than that from the full moon。  Its colour apparently made no
  difference in the result。  When they were illuminated by a candle;
  or even by a bright paraffin lamp; they were not usually affected
  at first。  Nor were they when the light was alternately admitted
  and shut off。  Sometimes; however; they behaved very differently;
  for as soon as the light fell on them; they withdrew into their
  burrows with almost instantaneous rapidity。  This occurred perhaps
  once out of a dozen times。  When they did not withdraw instantly;
  they often raised the anterior tapering ends of their bodies from
  the ground; as if their attention was aroused or as if surprise was
  felt; or they moved their bodies from side to side as if feeling
  for some object。  They appeared distressed by the light; but I
  doubt whether this was really the case; for on two occasions after
  withdrawing slowly; they remained for a long time with their
  anterior extremities protruding a little from the mouths of their
  burrows; in which position they were ready for instant and complete
  withdrawal。
  When the light from a candle was concentrated by means of a large
  lens on the anterior extremity; they generally withdrew instantly;
  but this concentrated light failed to act perhaps once out of half
  a dozen trials。  The light was on one occasion concentrated on a
  worm lying beneath water in a saucer; and it instantly withdrew
  into its burrow。  In all cases the duration of the light; unless
  extremely feeble; made a great difference in the result; for worms
  left exposed before a paraffin lamp or a candle invariably
  retreated into their burrows within from five to fifteen minutes;
  and if in the evening the pots were illuminated before the worms
  had come out of their burrows; they failed to appear。
  From the foregoing facts it is evident that light affects worms by
  its intensity and by its duration。  It is only the anterior
  extremity of the body; where the cerebral ganglia lie; which is
  affected by light; as Hoffmeister asserts; and as I observed on
  many occasions。  If this part is shaded; other parts of the body
  may be fully illuminated; and no effect will be produced。  As these
  animals have no eyes; we must suppose that the light passes through
  their skins; and in some manner excites their cerebral ganglia。  It
  appeared at first probable that the different manner in which they
  were affected on different occasions might be explained; either by
  the degree of extension of their skin and its consequent
  transparency; or by some particular incident of the light; but I
  could discover no such relation。  One thing was manifest; namely;
  that when worms were employed in dragging leaves into their burrows
  or in eating them; and even during the short intervals whilst they
  rested from their work; they either did not perceive the light or
  were regardless of it; and this occurred even when the light was
  concentrated on them through a large lens。  So; again; whilst they
  are paired; they will remain for an hour or two out of their
  burrows; fully exposed to the morning light; but it appears from
  what Hoffmeister says that a light will occasionally cause paired
  individuals to separate。
  When a worm is suddenly illuminated and dashes like a rabbit into
  its burrowto use the expression employed by a friendwe are at
  first led to look at the action as a reflex one。  The irritation of
  the cerebral ganglia appears to cause certain muscles to contract
  in an inevitable manner; independently of the will or consciousness
  of the animal; as if it were an automaton。  But the different
  effect which a light produced on different occasions; and
  especially the fact that a worm when in any way employed and in the
  intervals of such employment; whatever set of muscles and ganglia
  may then have been brought into play; is often regardless of light;
  are opposed to the view of the sudden withdrawal being a simple
  reflex action。  With the higher animals; when close attention to
  some object leads to the disregard of the impressions which other
  objects must be producing on them; we attribute this to their
  attention being then absorbed; and attention implies the presence
  of a mind。  Every sportsman knows that he can approach animals
  whilst they are grazing; fighting or courting; much more easily
  than at other times。  The state; also; of the nervous system of the
  higher animals differs much at different times; for instance; a
  horse is much more readily startled at one time than at another。
  The comparison here implied between the actions of one of the
  higher animals and of one so low in the scale as an earth…worm; may
  appear far…fetched; for we thus attribute to the worm attention and
  some mental power; nevertheless I can see no reason to doubt the
  justice of the comparison。
  Although worms cannot be said to possess the power of vision; their
  sensitiveness to light enables them to distinguish between day and
  night; and they thus escape extreme danger from the many diurnal
  animals which prey on them。  Their withdrawal into their burrows
  during the day appears; however; to have become an habitual action;
  for worms kept in pots covered by glass plates; over which sheets
  of black paper were spread; and placed before a north…east window;
  remained during the day…time in their burrows and came out every
  night; and they continued thus to act for a week。  No doubt a
  little light may have entered between the sheets of glass and the
  blackened paper; but we know from the trials with coloured glass;
  that worms are indifferent to a small amount of light。
  Worms appear to be less sensitive to moderate radiant heat than to
  a bright light。  I judge of this from having held at different
  times a poker heated to dull redness near some worms; at a distance
  which caused a very sensible degree of warmth in my hand。  One of
  them took no notice; a second withdrew into its burrow; but not
  quickly; the third and fourth much more quickly; and the fifth as
  quickly as possible。  The light from a candle; concentrated by a
  lens and passing through a sheet of glass which would intercept
  most of the heat…rays; generally caused a much more rapid retreat
  than did the heated poker。  Worms are sensitive to a low
  temperature; as may be inferred from their not coming out of their
  burrows during a frost。
  Worms do not possess any sense of hearing。  They took not the least
  notice of the shrill notes from a metal whistle; which was
  repeatedly sounded near them; nor did they of the deepest and
  loudest tones of a bassoon。  They were indifferent to shouts; if
  care was taken that the breath did not strike them。  When placed on
  a table close to the keys of a piano; which was played as loudly as
  possible; they remained perfectly quiet。
  Although they are indifferent to undulations in the air audible by
  us; they are extremely sensitive to vibrations in any solid object。
  When the pots containing two worms which had remained quite
  indifferent to the sound of the piano; were placed on this
  instrument; and the note C in the bass clef was struck; both
  instantly retreated into their burrows。  After a time they emerged;
  and when G above the line in the treble clef was struck they again
  retreated。  Under similar circumstances on another night one worm
  dashed into its burrow on a very high note being struck only once;
  and the other worm when C in the treble clef was struck。  On these
  occasions the worms were not touching the sides of the pots; which
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