MAN IN RELATION TO THE LOWER ANIMALS. 751 



degraded into simple accumulations of reproductive cells — repro- 

 ductive organs — on the bodies of the hydroids. 



No group of animals presents a more complete record of the 

 process of evolution of species than the hydro-medusae, and the 

 comparative study of the different species gives, with a wealth of 

 detail which is entirely beyond the scope of a short article, all the 

 steps in the progress of modification. The minute gradations are 

 so numerous that a long training is required to grasp them all 

 without confusion, and to read the history which they exhibit, 

 but those which I have selected are sufficient to illustrate the 

 manner in which the larval life has gradually grown into promi- 

 nence, and has become evolved and specialized, while the adult 

 life has dropped more and more into the background, and has 

 finally disappeared completely. 



MAN IN RELATION TO THE LOWER ANIMALS. 



By Prof. EDWIN EMEESON. 



ON the published bills and circulars of the "Fidelity Trust 

 Company," of Philadelphia, is a representation of a strong- 

 box guarded by a watchful dog. The faithful protection of the 

 dog is a striking emblem of the mission of the Fidelity Trust 

 Company. Fidelity to a trust is certainly a moral quality of a 

 high order. This is such a well-known characteristic of the family 

 of dogs as to have become proverbial. It is a matter of common 

 observation that members of the better class of dogs, such as New- 

 foundlands and Saint-Bernards, show also other moral qualities : 

 they have a high sense of honor, can not be bribed, will not steal, 

 etc., and are true to the death as to matters committed to their 

 trust. To deny to such animals the possession of moral qualities 

 seems to be absurd. But moral qualities and reasoning faculties 

 are not confined, in the animal world, to dogs alone ; far from it. 

 Many tribes of animals have the habit, when necessity seems to 

 require, of posting sentinels to guard from surprise. This practice 

 is in use by the chamois, the deer, the wolf, the goat, the wild 

 horse, the elephant, the beaver, the monkey ; the raven, the crow, 

 and many other birds. To consider in advance as to the necessity 

 of placing sentinels, and then to resort to that form of strategic 

 device, is a decided proof of the possession of no small perceptive 

 and reasoning power ; and the fact that the sentinels faithfully 

 fulfill the onerous duties of their trust is a striking proof of ad- 

 vanced moral qualities. 



Any theory in regard to man's place in nature which denies 

 some degree of reason and moral perception to the lower animals 



