24 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



Annelida. 



Mr. Darwin has now in the press a highly interesting 

 work on the habits of earth-worms. It appears from his 

 observations that the manner in which these animals draw 

 down leaves, &c., into their burrows is strongly indicative 

 of instinctive action, if not of intelligent purpose — seeing 

 that they always lay hold of the part of the leaf (even 

 though an exotic one) by the traction of which the leaf 

 will offer least resistance to being drawn down. But as 

 this work will so shortly be published, I shall not forestall 

 any of the facts which it has to state, nor should I yet 

 like to venture an opinion as to how far these facts, when 

 considered altogether, would justify any inference to a 

 truly mental element as existing in these animals. 



Of the land leeches in Ceylon, Sir E. Tennent gives 

 an account which likewise seems to bespeak intelligence 

 as occurring in annelids. He says : — 



In moving, the land leeches have the power of planting one 

 extremity on the earth and raising the other perpendicularly to 

 watch for their victim. Such is their vigilance and instinct^ 

 that on the approach of a passer-by to a spot which they infest, 

 they may be seen amongst the grass and fallen leaves on the 

 edge of a native path, poised erect, and preparing for their 

 attack on man and horse. On descrying their prey they ad- 

 vance rapidly by semicircular strides, fixing one end firmly and 

 arching the other forwards, till by successive advances they can 

 lay hold of the traveller's foot, when they disengage themselves 

 from the ground and ascend his dress in search of an aperture 

 to enter. In these encounters the individuals in the rear of a 

 party of travellers in the jungle invariably fare worst, as the 

 leeches, once warned of their approach, congregate with sin- 

 gular celerity.^ 



* Natural History of Ceylon, p. 481. 



