208 THE ANATOMY OF SCIENCE 



cannot logically do so as long as we adhere to 

 the dogma of the non-inheritance of acquired 

 characteristics. I have already said something 

 of the evidence against the transmission of 

 physical characteristics acquired through use, 

 and passed on in such manner as to increase the 

 adaptation of a species to its environment. It 

 seems to me, however, that in the case of ac- 

 quired mental traits and habits, the evidence 

 against transmission is by no means so strong. 

 Here also orthodox biology insists upon its for- 

 mula of non-transmission, but now other views 

 are at least being considered by numerous biolo- 

 gists.* 



Some years ago as I passed a bookstall in 

 France my eye was caught by the title The 

 Psychic Life of Insects.^ I found not only that 

 the book had been written by one of the sound- 

 est and most experienced of French naturalists, 

 but was also delightful reading. After a careful 

 and S3^nipathetic review of various investiga- 

 tions of tropisms, the author proceeded to vital 



4 Among the recent treatises on biology the one with 

 which I have found myself particularly sympathetic is the 

 very readable book by Professor J. Arthur Thomson, A 

 System of Animate Nature. 



5 This fascinating book by Bouvier has since been trans- 

 lated into English by L. O. Howard. 



