390 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Migrations of certain pelagic animals were observed, and the con- 

 clusion was reached as above. Positive and negative heliotropism 

 causes the upward and downward migrations. Geotropism enters into 

 the explanation of periodic depth migrations. 



These experiments, given somewhat at length, will be suflBcient to 

 show Doctor Loeb's view. The analysis of instincts is purely from a 

 physiological point of view. He rests his case with the belief that 

 ultimately data will be furnished for a scientific ethics. The theory 

 that instincts can be explained on the basis of the physical and 

 chemical qualities of protoplasm may give us a scientific phylogeny. 

 He says that man does not work in the fear of poverty, but from the 

 instinct of workmanship. We are instinctively forced to be active. 



Applying this concept of "tropisms" to our activities. I suppose 

 we should say, then, that there is a negative heliotropism among bakers 

 and actresses who turn night into day ; and that people are led to 

 the beer-gardens by the bright lights, through a positive heliotropism. 

 And there would be nosotropism for physicians, necrotopism for under- 

 takers, plytotropism for gardeners, and geotropism for field laborers. 

 Everything depends upon the definition of a tropism, which is grow- 

 ing more complicated than instincts. The action of the organic me- 

 chanism is explained by the theory. If we define instinct on the 

 physical basis as in inherited mechanism replete with motion, two 

 problems arise : First, the origin of the mechanism ; second, the mo- 

 tion and the stimulus that are contained in the explanation of the 

 action immediately. No one but the cock-sure evolutionist would 

 attempt to account for the former. Toward the explanation of the 

 latter it seems to me Doctor Loeb has made a valuable contribution. 

 The mechanism is an arrangement of nervous tissue, or possibly in 

 some cases muscular tissue such that the energy which it contains 

 finds a way of discharge that is generally regular and determinate. 

 Individual experience must be considered in determinate actions, 

 however. When the precise organization is inherited then the in- 

 varying action is instinctive, as we understand that term ; while if ac- 

 quired during the lifetime of the individual the action is said to be 

 automatic or reflex. Natural selection may explain a vast number of 

 the higher human instincts, such as self-preservation, honesty, fear, 

 love, socialization, and many others enumerated by James. 



But it would seem in the process of adaptation that the larvse, flies 

 and all, would have perished before the instinct or tropism was planted. 

 But this is the query of a boy, and the satisfaction is in the asking, 

 not in the answer that might be given. 



Millions of birds migrate together. The nesting habits are essen- 

 tially alike. Do they all respond to a climatic stimulus at the same 



