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232 THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 



biological frameworks do not arise on this basis, but solely 

 through subjects, by means of impulses. 



The second question is, " How is the rule of the subject 

 affected by the material factors ? " That there is an influence 

 of the kind is certain from the inter-action we mentioned 

 between function and function-rule, when the framework is 

 injured. 



There is also a reaction of the same nature in the case 

 of plastic actions. But it is quite unknown in all those 

 associations which we bring together under the name of 

 " wisdom of organisms." The popular doctrine of adaptation 

 is totally unable to reveal these marvellous inter-connections. 



THE TOOLS OF ANIMALS 



The little bag rolled up by the funnel-roller beetle exhibits 

 aU the properties shown by a piece of human apparatus. 

 Its function is not autonomous, but a counter-action which 

 makes the performance of the beetle complete. Since the 

 birch-leaf represents dead material to the external constructor, 

 the bag has accompanying as well as leading properties. The 

 same may be said of the nests of birds, and of all the dwellings 

 of insects. The less foreign material is used, and the more 

 self-produced substances serve for the construction of the 

 house, the less obvious do the accompanying properties 

 become. 



Let us at once get rid of the mistaken attempts to 

 compare with one another implements such as birds' nests, 

 and to set up an ascending series indicating the gradual 

 advance towards perfection. Each implement can be judged 

 only with regard to its counter-action for a particular animal, 

 and consequently the implements are as non-comparable 

 among themselves as are the animals that make them. The 

 nests of birds, as Herrik pointed out, form merely an external 



