mass can do this for a considerable time, and if its absorption of new matter more than replaces that lost by decomposition, and if it is of such a nature as to resist the mechanical or chemical forces to which it is usually exposed, and to retain a tolerably constant form, we term it a living organism. We can conceive an organism to be so constituted, and we can further conceive that any fragments, which may be accidentally broken from it, or which may fall away when its bulk has become too great for the cohesion of all its parts, may begin to increase anew and run the same course as the parent mass. This is growth and reproduction in their simplest forms; and from such a simple beginning it is possible to conceive a series of slight modifications of composition, and of internal and external forces, which should ultimately lead to the development of more complex organisms. The LIFE of such an organism may, perhaps, be nothing added to it, but merely the name we give to the result of a balance of internal and external forces in maintaining the permanence of the form and structure of the individual. The simplest conceivable form of such life would be the dewdrop, which owes its existence to the balance between the condensation of aqueous vapour in the atmosphere and the evaporation of its substance. If either is in excess, it soon ceases to maintain an individual existence. I do not maintain that vegetative life is wholly due to such a complex balance of forces, but only that it is conceivable as such. With CONSCIOUSNESS the case is very different. Its phenomena are not comparable with those of any kind of matter subjected to any of the known or conceivable forces of nature; and we cannot conceive a gradual transition from absolute unconsciousness to consciousness, from an unsentient organism to a sentient being. The merest rudiment of sensation or self-consciousness is infinitely removed from absolutely non-sentient or unconscious matter. We can conceive of no physical addition to, or modification of, an unconscious mass which should create consciousness; no step in the series of changes organised matter may undergo, which should bring in sensation where there was no sensation or power of sensation at the preceding step. It is because the things are utterly incomparable and incommensurable that we can only conceive of sensation coming to matter from without, while life may be conceived as merely a specific combination and co-ordination of the matter and the forces that compose the universe, and with which we are separately acquainted. We may admit with Professor Huxley that protoplasm is the "matter of life" and the cause of organisation, but we cannot admit or conceive that protoplasm is the primary source of sensation and consciousness, or that it can ever of itself become conscious in the same way as we may perhaps conceive that it may become alive. 373 INDEX. ABRAXAS grossulariata, 119. Acronycta psi, protective colouring ADAPTATION brought about by gene- EGERIIDE mimic Hymenoptera, AGASSIZ, or embryonic character of Agriopis aprilina, protective colour- ALCEDINIDÆ, sexual colouring and nidification of, 240. AMADINA, Sexual colouring and ni- Angræcum sesquipedale, 272; its ANIMALS, senses and faculties of, 127; intellect of, compared with ANOA, 196. ANOPLOTHERIUM, 299. APPARENT exceptions to law of co- lour and nidification, 253. ARCHEOPTERYX, 300. ARCHITECTURE of most nations de- ARCTIC animals, white colour of, ARGYLL, Duke of, on colours of ASPECTS of nature as influencing BABIRUSA, 196. BASILORNIS, 196. 66 BATES, Mr., first adopted the word BEAUTY in nature, 282; not uni- versal, 284; of flowers useful to BIRDS, possible rapid increase of, BRAIN of the savage but slightly less than that of civilized man, and of anthropoid apes com- BROCA, Professor Paul, on the fine crania of the cave men, 337. BUFF-TIP moth, resembles a broken BUILDINGS of various races do not BUPRESTIDE, resembling bird's "natural selection," 131; varie- CACIA anthriboides, 94. CAPITONIDÆ, sexual colouring and sonous snake, 99; gaudy co- |