410 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



special modifications, as the lungs of a mammal differ 

 from the gills of a fish, and the gills from a merely 

 respii'atory surface in the Zoophyte. To say that the 

 same function is performed by all, is to confound the 

 general with the particular ; and to say that functions 

 are consequently independent of organs, is worse than 

 this, because it leaves out of sight the fact that the 

 whole surface of the animal which respires is the 

 " organ '' of that general respiration. ^^Tien acts can 

 be performed without agents, and animals can' exist 

 without bodies, in the shape of pure syntheses of func- 

 tions, then will it be a " grave error " to conclude that 

 functions are necessarily dependent on organs, and not 

 till then. 



Although we have been forced to admit that Sensi- 

 bility can be manifested mthout nerves, and the para- 

 dox therefore of nervous conduction taking place with- 

 out nerves was only a paradox in its terms, yet inas- 

 much as functions are necessarily dependent on organs, 

 we are also forced to conclude that the various spe- 

 cialisations of nerve-tissue must bring with them corre- 

 sponding specialisations of property. What those are 

 we know not, perhaps may never know ; but the mere 

 recognition that such things must be, will help us to 

 understand many points. It explains, for example, 

 the absence of Pain in the lower animals, spoken of in 

 the last chapter ; it explains the possibility of such 

 myriads of subtle difi'erences in the perceptions of men 

 so nearly allied as twin brothers. 



And now, dear reader, we must part company, after 



