The Scottish Naturalist. ioi 



perceptions, and impressions, in insects, is highly probable ; it 

 is even difficult in some to ascertain the particular stops when 

 each individuality commences, under the different phases of 

 egg, larva, pupa, or if much consciousness of individuality exists. 

 The continuation of reproduction for several generations by the 

 females alone in some of these tribes tends to the probability 

 of the greater continuity of existence, and the sub-divisions of 

 life by cuttings, at any rate must stagger the advocate of in- 

 dividuality. 



Among the millions of specific varieties of living things which 

 occupy the humid portion of the surface of our planet, as far 

 back as can be traced, there does not appear, with the ex- 

 ception of man, to have been any particular engrossing race, but a 

 pretty fair balance of powers of occupancy, or rather most won- 

 derful variations of circumstance parallel to the nature of every 

 species ; as if circumsta?ice and species had groiun up together. 

 There are indeed several races which have threatened ascen- 

 dency in some particular regions, but it is man alone from whom 

 any general imminent danger to the existence of his brethren is 

 to be dreaded. As far back as history reaches, man had already 

 had considerable influence, and had made encroachments upon 

 his fellow denizens, probably occasioning the destruction of 

 many species, and the production and continuation of a number 

 of varieties, or even species, which he found more suited to 

 supply his wants, but which, from the innimity of their condi- 

 tion, not having undergone selection by the law of nature, of which 

 we have spoken, cannot maintain their ground without his cul- 

 ture and protection. It is, however, only in the present age 

 that man has begun to reap the fruits of his tedious education, 

 and has proven how much " knowledge is power." He has now 

 acquired a dominion over the material world, and a consequent 

 power of increase, so as to render it probable that the whole 

 surface of the earth may soon be over-run by this engrossing 

 anomaly, to the annihilation of every wonderful and beautiful 

 variety of animated existence which does not administer to his 

 wants, principally as laboratories of preparation to befit cruder 

 elemental matter for assimilation by his organs. 



