THE WORLD OF LIVING ORGANISMS 



155 



IMPORTANCE OF THE RULES OF FUNCTION 

 FOR THE FUNCTION-CIRCLE 



It is impossible to understand the relation between mark- 

 organs and action-organs, and the interdependence of their 

 function-rules, unless we first separate from one another the 

 individual function-circles of which these organs form the 

 keystones. 



We must note that each circle — for instance, the enemy- 

 circle — is in principle always closed, however simple the 

 indication that gives information of the enemy's presence, 

 and even if it consists merely of a smell, or of a slight move- 

 ment ; the act, whether of flight or of defence, that serves to 

 ward off the enemy, will always be initiated with complete- 

 ness. Consequently, the two organs may be of very different 

 degrees of development. The indication may be highly 

 complex, and the action may consist of a simple movement ; 

 or, conversely, a very elaborate action may follow when the 

 indication is quite simple. 



To facilitate a general survey, I give below the simple 

 diagram of a function-circle. 



^' 





d 





^ 



/nc//cafor ^' 





> 



/%_-? 



'^c^^,^ - - 



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<=^CA 



'O/y 



^^^ /fee for 





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As the diagram shows, the inner world is divided into two 

 parts ; one, which receives the impressions, is turned towards 

 the world-as-sensed, and the other, which distributes the 

 effects, is turned towards the world of action. Between 



