ZOOGENESIS 



in any organized being, but more especially in the 

 lower animals, producing effects which appear to be 

 those of reason and knowledge, but which transcend 

 the general intelligence or experience of the creature." 

 In the Century Dictionary we read further that 

 "instinct is said to be blind — that is, either the end 

 is not consciously recognized by the animal, or the 

 connection of the means with the end is not under- 

 stood." Intelligence is defined as "discernment or 

 understanding," and as "cultivated understanding." 



Now if intelligence is really discernment or under- 

 standing, as according to definition it is, it is difficult 

 to see wherein it differs from instinct as displayed by 

 insects, birds and rodents. 



For instance, the mud-daubers, the fossorial, or 

 digger, and other solitary wasps (fig. xo, p. 33) display 

 great discernment and understanding in providing for 

 the welfare of their young, which they will never see. 

 Their actions are certainly based upon definite and 

 detailed knowledge of the conditions which must be 

 met. How they acquired that knowledge is wholly 

 unknown to us, but it is indubitable that the knowl- 

 edge is there. Whether their actions have anything 

 to do with reason or not is a matter of opinion. 



Reason is variously defined, but all definitions of 

 reason are based upon the general idea that reason 

 is a faculty characteristic of and peculiar to man, or 

 perhaps shared in a small way with the more familiar 

 domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. As a com- 

 parative term, therefore, the word reason is quite 

 without meaning. 



t3] 



