this is absurd; none but a perfect ignoramus in anatomy and physiology will do it; and, as matter of fact, Cuvier, as already intimated, whose authority our author will not call in question, puts it out of dispute. His words are as follows:-" Le système nerveux de la pluspart des insectes, est généralement composé d'un cerveau formé de deux ganglions opposés, réunis par leur bases, donnant huit pairs des nerfs et deux nerfs solitaires, et de douze ganglions, tous inferieures." See "Regne Animal," tome iv. pp. 293-4. Nor is it from Cuvier alone that we derive this knowledge. To every thorough-bred entomolo gist of the day it is as familiar as household words. Kirby and Spence, whose works are in hundreds of libraries in our coun try, have diffused it very amply. Is it not amazing, then, that our author should so expose his ignorance, touching informa tion which even courts his acceptance?-No; it is not amazingit is but in character with the conduct of all such pretenders to science as he is. To this scheme of cerebral anatomy, common to a large class of the insect tribe, neither the bee, the ant, nor the termes is an exception. The spider also has a ganglionic brain. In fact, vision without light, hearing without sound, or smelling without odorous matter, would not be a greater anomaly, than the existence and exercise of any sense, or of any form of voluntary muscular motion, without a brain.—To return. In ants and termites, we say, there exists surprising muscular strength, in proportion to size, in consequence of high muscular intensity; that intensity being derived in part from the inordi nate motive energy of the brain and nerves. Why, then, may not the same be true of other cerebral functions? Why may not they also be inordinately powerful, on account of inordinate cerebral intensity? We might vary the question, and ask, Is it not altogether probable that they are so? We usually find a congenialness pervading all parts of the same animal-intensity and energy in one organ, and its functions associated with the same qualities in others. Whenever, then, we discover, in an animal, great power in proportion to size, in one form of cere bral matter, we are authorized, if not compelled, to infer the same in relation to others. Spiders are also exceedingly vigoTous in proportion to their size, a fact denoting in them high cerebral and muscular intensity. So are bees; else, slender as their wing-muscles are, they could not bear their cumbrous bodies and burdens through the air, to great distances, and rise with them to the tops of lofty trees, as they are known to do. It is a fair inference, then, that a similar intensity in the intel lectual organs of those insects may bestow on them a corresponding degree of sagacity and art. By "intensity" here, we mean nearly the same that we would by the words high tem VOL X.NO. XLVIII. C periment, or compactness, which is not confined to a part of the body, but pervades the whole of it. This view of the subject is intended for fair-minded and reasoning men. From them it will receive a candid consideration. From our author we know it will not. Nor will his treatment of it be a matter of any con em to us. With the anatomy, especially the minute anatomy of insects, our acquaintance, as yet, is very limited. As far, however, as mvestigations on the subject have been carried, it clearly ap pears, that, like all other kinds of living matter, the different spectos of that tribe of animated nature act in accordance with then firm and organization. They have organs fitted specifieally for the performance of their functions. Nor is this more strikingly true of any sort of insects, than of the termites. That family, in the first place, differs not a little from every wiher known one, in figure, habits, and general policy. But this is not all. The family consists of three classes, breeders, day and wors, each class differing widely from the The warriors will not and cannot labour, the labouncer campor breed, nor can the breeders either fight or laWhy Because each class, as far as it has been examunad, targeted, we'nsively for its own mode of life and ac 190 warriors have shields and armour, the labourers incampice to mora with, and the breeders are supplied with #rape teangen. Of the peculiar cerebral aptitudes of these Audio 4's Be very butle is known. As the cerebral developHi, aty kawy kyky gf all ødser animals that have been sufficiently v kanal. have deca unäuerly found to correspond with their auty physis and modes of life, it is reasonable to comtoisy dupdate youmey shall have been made appear, that is free waa hand to the termites. Indeed, under dee picicut veonany of dings, it would hardly be extravagant fu piduotuve 15 KG VARIAC Aor the case to be otherwise. We phecy whoay dad or gausation as perfectly adapted to function, da huumuta bodiiça de to give light, or as any other causes are achanted in pour ceis I wish is to be understooch, shat we are now writing extra soả có xe, and sheayadro que our own responsibility. Phrenology, włochy deals wały in racing doox is yet ezerosy sanction us in the views we have gaven, though we gbina reason does; and we doubt not that Phrenology and borvatter. For any mistakes the way bate pommunitted, then, the wience is not answerable. They are pur pwa, and we acknowledge and assume them, with all their consequences Supposing them to exist, they are certainly las glaring than those into which our author has plunged ou the same subicet. By denying brain to termites, anis bees, and spiders and abstracting their mens endres from their matter, he makes them more spiritual than man himself, some bear to trace them. Nor To take leave of this subject, on which we have perhaps bestowed already too much time. Phrenology has been pushed to some extent among the animals inferior to man, but has not yet, as far as we are informed, been applied with much effect to the exposition of the propensities and other mental qualities of the insect race. On whatever classes, however, it has been brought fairly to bear, it has been found as true in relation to them as to the human race. This appears clearly from the superb work of Dr Vimont on Comparative Phrenology, one of the most interesting productions of the age. are we inclined to doubt that it will be found hereafter as applicable to insects and reptiles, as to the higher orders of animated nature. Indeed, under the present organization and endowment of the animal kingdom, we deem it, as already mentioned, scarcely possible for the case to be otherwise. In those humbler ranks of being, muscles, joints, stomachs, teeth, claws, and respiratory and generative organs, serve the same purposes as in the more elevated. Each apparatus, moreover, is fitted precisely to the form, character, and mode of life of the animal possessing it. And, in the progress of our knowledge of nature, the same will, no doubt, be discovered to be true of the brain. In each species and variety of the insect and reptile tribes, where that organ exists at all, its special aptitude to the modes of subsistence and action of the beings endowed with it, will be found to be complete. But we repeat that, in making these remarks, we are not, perhaps, fully backed by what Phrenology has yet done. Our errors, therefore, should we fall into any, are not to be charged to the discredit of the science. They are to be treated as our own. Nor is there any fairness in at tempting to derive objections against Phrenology from the mental phenomena of the insect races, except so far as the science may have spoken of them. Has it committed any mistakes respecting them? If so, let them be cited and exposed, and, as far as they may avail, they will weaken its claim to entire credibility-they will show, at least, that it is not yet perfect. But it is unjust to ransack, for objections to it, a department of nature into which its researches have not yet been carried. Its basis is observation; and that has not yet been pushed into every department of the animal kingdom. It will be soon enough to test the truth of Phrenology by the lower orders of 1 1 animals, when it shall have included them in its researches. To attempt this at present is premature, and comports perfectly with the uniform injustice the science has sustained from the measures of its opponents. On this ground, therefore, we might, without being chargeable with shrinking from the contest, have declined replying to our author's objections drawn from the mental phenomena of insects. Phrenology is answerable only for what it has done, or attempted to do, not for what it has not done or attempted. The gentleman's remarks on insects and spiders, therefore, which he has made and bruited with such an air of triumph, and seems to think so withering to our science, are out of joint and quite innocent-certainly they injure nothing but his own reputation and that of his philosophy. ARTICLE V. ADDRESS BY THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY FOR AIDING IN THE GENERAL DIFFUSION OF SCIENCE. IN 1832, an Association, consisting chiefly of persons engaged in trade and manufactures, was formed in Edinburgh, for the purpose of procuring lectures, at convenient hours, on various branches of useful and entertaining knowledge, and particularly on the natural sciences. The objects aimed at by that association (which is now termed the Edinburgh Philo sophical Association), were, that the lectures should be delivered in the evening after business hours; that they should be accessible to females; and that, by procuring a large attendance, admission should be afforded to individuals at a very moderate price. A fundamental principle hitherto acted on by the Philosophical Association has been, that the entire management of its affairs should be vested in directors chosen from among the members, and consequently belonging to that class of the people for whose benefit the lectures are instituted. The great advantage of this arrangement is the superior success with which both the subjects and the lectures can be selected and varied to suit the wants of the auditors. Each of the directors having the means of ascertaining, by extensive communication with his own circle of acquaintances, both the effect produced by the respective lecturers, and the degree of interest excited by the subject, they, guided by the information thus obtained, select, annually, in October, such branches of science as they have been led to think may prove useful and attractive, and they engage such lecturers as are supposed to be capable of conveying in struction most successfully. In 1832-3, the following subjects were treated of by the lecturers whose names are annexed : CHEMISTRY-Dr Murray. PHRENOLOGY-Mr Combe. In 1833-4: GEOLOGY-Dr Murray. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY-Mr George Lees, A. M. ASTRONOMY-Rev. Thomas Gray. PHYSIOLOGY and ZOOLOGY-Mr W. A. F. Browne, Surgeon. In 1834-5: PHRENOLOGY-Mr Combe. LAWS OF THE ANIMAL ECONOMY-Dr Allen Thomson. In 1835-6: CHEMISTRY-Dr Fyfe. ASTRONOMY and GEOLOGY-Rev. J. P. Nichol. MORAL PHILOSOPHY-Mr Combe. So completely have the results borne out the excellence of the leading principle above mentioned, that, during last winter, in consequence of the increased attendance, the lectures were delivered in the largest Waterloo Room, to an audience of upwards of six hundred individuals of both sexes. The directors of the Philosophical Association have published several able and instructive addresses, which have been widely circulated; and the newspaper press has extensively reported their proceedings. The inspiriting example and success of that Association, combined with a general desire in the public mind for information, have naturally led to the institution of a number of provincial associations, essentially similar to that of Edinburgh in their constituent elements and objects, and from which numerous applications have been received by the lecturers and others connected with it for advice and assistance in the general direction of their efforts, and especially in procuring through them the services of able and qualified lecturers. Unfortunately, however, from the very limited means possessed by individuals of making known their wants and enlisting others in the cause, few of these applications have been entirely successful; for although it is believed that many young men may be found who possess the talents and information necessary to enable them to lecture with success, yet, from there having hitherto been no general demand for such talent, very few individuals have adopted lecturing to popular audiences as a profession. At the same time, it is certain that an extensive demand for instructors of this kind has arisen, and there is every reason to believe that it will be permanent, and increase. The good be accomplished by means of scientific lectures delivered to popular audiences in a luminous style, with the requisite illustrations, is incalculable; and any means which can which may 1 |